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06:57
Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice
Published on: November 11, 2021
Weight loss, weight maintenance, and adaptive thermogenesis
Stefan G J A Camps1, Sanne P M Verhoef, Klaas R Westerterp
1Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands. sg.camps@maastrichtuniversity.nl
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|March 29, 2013
Summary
Diet-induced weight loss causes adaptive thermogenesis, a reduction in resting metabolic rate (RMR). This metabolic adaptation persists even after weight loss is maintained for up to one year.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic adaptation
- Human physiology
- Weight management
Background:
- Diet-induced weight loss is known to trigger adaptive thermogenesis.
- Adaptive thermogenesis is characterized by a greater-than-expected reduction in resting metabolic rate (RMR).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if adaptive thermogenesis continues during the weight maintenance phase after a period of weight loss.
- Investigate the long-term effects of weight maintenance on metabolic rate.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 91 participants (22 men, 69 women) with obesity underwent an 8-week very-low-energy diet followed by 44 weeks of weight maintenance.
- Body composition was assessed using a 3-compartment model.
- Resting metabolic rate was measured (RMRm) and predicted (RMRp) at baseline and at 8, 20, and 52 weeks.
Main Results:
- The ratio of measured to predicted resting metabolic rate (RMRm/RMRp) significantly decreased after the diet (P < 0.001) and remained suppressed throughout the 52-week weight maintenance period (P < 0.01).
- This reduction in RMRm/RMRp was correlated with the amount of weight lost at multiple time points.
- No significant changes in the degree of adaptive thermogenesis were observed during the weight maintenance phase.
Conclusions:
- Weight loss induces adaptive thermogenesis, which is sustained during weight maintenance for up to one year.
- The findings suggest that metabolic rate does not recover to predicted levels during prolonged weight maintenance.
- Adaptive thermogenesis plays a significant role in the long-term metabolic response to weight loss.
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