Habitual fat intake and basal fat oxidation in obese and non-obese Caucasians
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Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice
Published on: November 11, 2021
1German Institute of Human Nutrition, Division of Biochemistry and Physiology of Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbrücke, Germany.
Objective:
To examine the relationship between habitual fat intake and basal fat oxidation in obese and non-obese Caucasian men and women.
Methods:
Habitual fat intake was assessed by 7-day weighed dietary records and resting fat oxidation was determined after an overnight fast in 132 weight stable non-diabetic subjects (38 males, 94 females). All subjects were characterized for weight, height, waist-to-hip ratio, physical activity, plasma glucose and insulin response to an oral glucose load, plasma catecholamine and leptin levels. Under-reporters, defined according to plausibility of the relationship between energy expenditure and energy intake, were excluded from the analyses.
Results:
The mean age was 53.1+/-10.6 y (19-72 y) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 30.7+/-5.8 kg/m(2) (19.4-45.8 kg/m(2)). Sixty-eight subjects were obese (BMI>30 kg/m(2)). Univariate regression analysis revealed a significant, albeit modest, relationship between absolute fat intake and BMI (r(2)=0.06; P
Conclusion:
Habitual fat intake has a significant, albeit modest, effect on basal fat oxidation, even when adjusted for sex and body FM. The rather modest effect of habitual fat intake on fat oxidation may in part explain the increased propensity to gain FM on a high-fat diet.

