AbstractObjectiveThis report aimed to describe the results of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) assessed by doubly labeled water (_DLWTDEE) and the adequacy of the dietary reference intakes (DRI) equations to estimate energy requirements (_DRIER).MethodsA cross‐sectional and observational study in a convenience sample of 40 healthy Brazilian adults (≥20 years; 21 women) living in a tropical urban region. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was measured by indirect calorimetry, _DLWTDEE was compared with _DRIER using individual calculated physical activity level (PAL = _DLWTDEE/BMR) in its estimation.ResultsBMR (5043 ± 548 kJ/day in women and 6213 ± 656 kJ/day in men), _DLWTDEE (8372 ± 1324 kJ/day and 11 453 ± 1834 kJ/day), and PAL (1.66 ± 0.17 and 1.85 ± 0.30, respectively) were significantly higher in men. The _DRIER significantly overestimated _DLWTDEE by 13.7 ± 8.3% and 12.7 ± 10.7% in women and men, respectively.ConclusionIn the present sample of relatively active urban Brazilian subjects, the _DRIER yielded inaccurate estimation of _DLWTDEE. More data from low‐ and moderate‐income countries are necessary to develop accurate estimates of TDEE.