Energy content of weight loss: kinetic features during voluntary caloric restriction.
Open accessAbstract
The classic rule stating that restricting intake by 3500 kcal/wk will lead to a 1-lb/wk rate of weight loss has come under intense scrutiny. Generally not a component of most weight loss prediction models, the "early" rapid weight loss phase may represent a period during which the energy content of weight change (ΔEC/ΔW) is low and thus does not follow the classic "rule." The current study tested this hypothesis. Dynamic ΔEC/ΔW changes were examined in 23 Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy Study overweight men and women evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry during weight loss at treatment weeks 4 to 24. Changes from baseline in body energy content were estimated from fat and fat-free mass. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine if ΔEC/ΔW changed significantly over time. The evaluation was expanded with addition of the Kiel 13-week weight loss study of 75 obese men and women to test with adequate power if there are sex differences in ΔEC/ΔW. The analysis of variance CALERIE time effect was significant (P < .001), with post hoc tests indicating that ΔEC/ΔW (kilocalories per kilogram) increased significantly from week 4 (X ± SEM; 4, 858 ± 388) to 6 (6, 041 ± 376, P < .01) and changed insignificantly thereafter; ΔEC/ΔW was significantly larger for Kiel women (6, 804 ± 226) vs men (6, 119 ± 240, P < .05). Sex-specific dynamic relative changes in body composition and related ΔEC/ΔW occur with weight loss initiation that extend for 1 month or more. These observations provide new information for developing energy balance models and further define limitations of the 3500-kcal energy deficit → 1-lb weight loss rule.
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Because adipose tissue in humans also contains a small amount of water and other cells, the actual in vivo energy content in 1 kg of adipose tissue is approximately 7,700 kcal.
“However, because AT in humans also contains a small amount of water and other cells, the actual in vivo energy content in 1 kg of AT is approximately 7,700 kcal (Flatt, 1995; Heymsfield et al., 2012).”
From Effect of Exercise Training on Fat Loss—Energetic Perspectives and the Role of Improved Adipose Tissue Function and Body Fat Distribution (2021) · cites this paper as Heymsfield et al., 2012
The Discussion (page unavailable) gives 7,700 kcal/kg as the conventional value for the energy content of weight loss and says that value is approached in the later phase of weight loss. It does not identify 7,700 kcal as the energy content of 1 kg of adipose tissue or explain the figure by adipose tissue’s water and cellular content. (LLM, conf=0.83)
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- Authors
- Heymsfield, S. B., Thomas, D., Martin, C. K., Redman, L. M., Strauss, B., Bosy-Westphal, A., Müller, M. J., Shen, W., & Martin Nguyen, A.
- Affiliations
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center (US)
- Montclair State University (US)
- Monash Medical Centre (AU)
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
- Columbia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Heymsfield, Steven B.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Metabolism
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-07
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 937-943
- ISSN
- 0026-0495 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3810417
- OpenAlex
- W2071452671
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 6 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5p01dk042618-15, 5k23dk068052-04)
- National Institute on Aging (U01AG020478, U01-AG20478)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K23-DK-068052, R21DK066360, P30DK072476, P01-DK042618)
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (K99HD060762, R00HD060762)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- caloric restriction, energy balance, fat-free mass, fat mass, body composition, sex differences, weight loss kinetics, obesity, negative energy balance
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Factors, Weight Loss, Absorptiometry, Photon, Caloric Restriction, Adiposity, Overweight
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