Metabolic adaptation delays time to reach weight loss goals
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Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether metabolic adaptation, at the level of resting metabolic rate, was associated with time to reach weight loss goals, after adjusting for confounders. Methods: A total of 65 premenopausal women with overweight (BMI: 28.6 ± 1.5 kg/m 2 ; age: 36.4 ± 5.9 years; 36 were White, and 29 were Black) followed an 800‐kcal/d diet until BMI ≤25 kg/m 2 . Body weight and composition were measured at baseline and after weight loss. Dietary adherence was calculated from total energy expenditure, determined by double labeled water, and body composition changes. Metabolic adaptation was defined as a significantly lower measured versus predicted resting metabolic rate (from own regression model). A regression model to predict time to reach weight loss goals was developed including target weight loss, energy deficit, dietary adherence, and metabolic adaptation as predictors. Results: Participants lost on average 12.5 ± 3.1 kg (16.1% ± 3.4%) over 155.1 ± 49.2 days. Average dietary adherence was 63.6% ± 31.0%. There was significant metabolic adaptation after weight loss (−46 ± 113 kcal/d, p = 0.002) and this variable was a significant predictor of time to reach weight loss goals ( β = −0.1, p = 0.041), even after adjusting for confounders ( R 2 adjusted = 0.63, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In premenopausal women with overweight, metabolic adaptation after a 16% weight loss increases the length of time necessary to achieve weight loss goals.
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The magnitude of this adaptation was a significant predictor of the time required to reach the targeted weight loss, with greater adaptation being associated with a slower rate of progress.
“The magnitude of this adaptation was a significant predictor of the time required to reach the targeted weight loss, with greater adaptation being associated with a slower rate of progress [62].”
From Dietary and Behavioral Strategies for Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance: A Narrative Review (2025) · cites this paper as [62]
In another study in which participants achieved a body weight reduction of approximately 16%, mean metabolic adaptation reached 46 kcal/day.
“In another study in which participants achieved a body weight reduction of approximately 16%, mean metabolic adaptation reached 46 kcal/day.”
From Dietary and Behavioral Strategies for Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance: A Narrative Review (2025) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- Martins, C., Gower, B. A., & Hunter, G. R.
- Affiliations
- Obesity Research Group Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim Norway
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Venue
- Obesity
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-01-27
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 400-406
- ISSN
- 1930-7381 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-739X
- PMC
- PMC8852805
- OpenAlex
- W4220768392
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 2.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Obesity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1RR025777, DK049779, DK079626, DK56336)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Dietary Effects on Health
- Keywords
- metabolic adaptation, resting metabolic rate, weight loss, premenopausal women, overweight, negative energy balance, dietary adherence, energy expenditure, body composition
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Physiological, Adult, Basal Metabolism, Body Composition, Energy Metabolism, Female, Goals, Humans, Weight Loss, Overweight
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