Mapping Resting Energy Expenditure in Malnourished Children During Nutritional Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review Protocol

Malnutrition remains a critical issue in resource-limited countries, where 181 million children under five are at risk of life-threatening conditions such as wasting, driven by factors like food insecurity, arm conflicts, and climate change. Understanding energy expenditure, particularly REE, is essential for effective nutritional recovery strategies, yet significant gaps exist in how REE fluctuates during different phases of nutritional rehabilitation. This review will focus on three key phases: Post-Stabilization, Growth Surge (catch-up weight and height gain), and Recovery Maintenance, to guide future interventions and identify areas needing further research.