Cited by 31Regulation of Appetite and ObesityDiet and metabolism studiesDietary Effects on Health

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 49 of the 49 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 46 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Imposed rate and extent of weight loss in obese men and adaptive changes in resting and total energy expenditure

Open access

Abstract

Objectives Weight loss (WL) is associated with a decrease in total and resting energy expenditure (EE). We aimed to investigate whether (1) diets with different rate and extent of WL determined different changes in total and resting EE and if (2) they influenced the level of adaptive thermogenesis, defined as the decline in total or resting EE not accounted by changes in body composition. Methods Three groups of six, obese men participated in a total fast for 6 days to achieve a 5% WL and a very low calorie (VLCD, 2.5 MJ/day) for 3 weeks or a low calorie (LCD, 5.2 MJ/day) diet for 6 weeks to achieve a 10% WL. A four-component model was used to measure body composition. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure resting EE. Total EE was measured by doubly labelled water (VLCD, LCD) and 24-hour whole-body calorimetry (fasting). Results VLCD and LCD showed a similar degree of metabolic adaptation for total EE (VLCD = -6.2%; LCD = -6.8%). Metabolic adaptation for resting EE was greater in the LCD (-0.4 MJ/day, -5.3%) compared to the VLCD (-0.1 MJ/day, -1.4%) group. Resting EE did not decrease after short-term fasting and no evidence of adaptive thermogenesis (+0.4 MJ/day) was found after 5% WL. The rate of WL was inversely associated with changes in resting EE (n = 30, r = 0.-42, p=0.01). Conclusions The rate of WL did not appear to influence the decline in total EE in obese men after 10% WL. Approximately 6% of this decline in total EE was explained by mechanisms of adaptive thermogenesis.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In obese men, diets producing different rates of weight loss (fasting, VLCD, LCD) led to similar declines in total energy expenditure after 10% weight loss, with about 6% of that decline attributable to adaptive thermogenesis. Adaptive changes in resting energy expenditure differed by intervention and were associated with the rate of weight loss.

Key findings

  • Total EE declined similarly after 10% WL in VLCD (−1.3 MJ/day; −8.4%) and LCD (−1.5 MJ/day; −8.2%), with comparable metabolic adaptation for total EE (VLCD −1.0 MJ/day, −6.2%; LCD −1.2 MJ/day, −6.8%).
  • Metabolic adaptation for resting EE was greater in LCD (−0.4 MJ/day, −5.3%) than VLCD (−0.1 MJ/day, −1.4%); 6-day fasting did not decrease resting EE and showed no evidence of adaptive thermogenesis after 5% WL (+0.4 MJ/day).
  • Rate of WL was inversely associated with changes in resting EE (n=30, r=−0.42, p=0.01), and adaptive changes in resting EE were associated with ∆FFM/∆BW (n=30, r=0.48, p=0.007); total EE adaptation was not associated with rate of WL (n=18, r=0.07, p=0.75) or ∆FFM/∆BW (n=18, r=0.26, p=0.27).
  • Body-composition changes differed: after 5% WL, FFM contributed 46%, 30%, and 18% of total WL in fasting, VLCD, and LCD groups; at 10% WL, VLCD lost 20% FFM/80% FM versus LCD 9% FFM/91% FM.

Methods

  • Eighteen healthy, non-smoking obese men (BMI 33–40 kg/m², aged 19–55 years; n=6 per group) were non-randomly allocated to 6-day total fasting, VLCD (2.5 MJ/day) for 3 weeks, or LCD (5.2 MJ/day) for 6 weeks, targeting 5% and 10% WL under residential controlled conditions.
  • Body composition used a four-component model (deuterium dilution for total body water, DEXA for bone mineral mass, Bod Pod for body volume/density); resting EE was measured by ventilated-hood indirect calorimetry, total EE by doubly labelled water (VLCD, LCD) and 24-hr whole-body calorimetry (fasting).
  • Multiple linear regression on pooled baseline data predicted resting and total EE from fat mass and fat-free mass; measured-minus-predicted EE defined adaptive thermogenesis, with paired/independent t-tests, repeated-measures ANOVA, and correlation analyses (significance p<0.01).

Limitations

  • The authors state important limitations: small sample size and non-randomized allocation of subjects to WL interventions.
  • The authors state the results are not representative of the entire obese population because the sample included only men.
  • The authors state the short fasting duration precluded DLW measurement of total EE; whole-body 24-hr calorimetry was used for three days but participants entered the calorimeters two days after fasting began, and baseline total EE was back-extrapolated assuming a linear decline, so fasting-group total EE results should be interpreted with caution.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.metabol.2015.03.011

Cites

49 of 49 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 46 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

Show all 62 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 21
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 14
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 12
39 of 39
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The baseline relationship between resting and total energy expenditure and fat mass/fat-free mass remains valid after weight loss.

    “These equations were then used to predict resting and total EE at the end of the weight loss (5%WL, 10%WL) interventions. Absolute and relative differences between the measured and predicted resting and total EE were calculated for each WL group to evaluate the presence of adaptive thermogenesis.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Total energy expenditure declines linearly during the fasting period.

    “based on the assumption of a linear decline in total EE”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The baseline-derived prediction equations for resting and total energy expenditure from fat-free mass and fat mass remain valid for estimating expected energy expenditure after weight loss, so that deviations indicate metabolic adaptation.

    “Predicted REE and TEE were estimated by using prediction equations which were developed using the baseline data for TEE DLW (N = 12) and REE (N = 18).”
    “These equations were then used to estimate REE and TEE in each WL group.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The difference between measured and predicted energy expenditure reflects metabolic adaptation rather than measurement error or other factors.

    “Negative values greater indicate that changes in body composition did not account for the observed changes in energy expenditure suggesting the existence of adaptive energetic mechanisms.”
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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Reported participant age exceeds the stated age range

    Minor

    The methods state that participants were aged 19-55 years, whereas Table 1 gives a maximum age of 56 years in the VLCD group.

  • Reported BMI ranges extend below the stated recruitment range

    Minor

    The eligibility description gives a BMI range of 33-40 kg/m2, but the baseline table reports group minimums of 31.0, 30.3, and 30.8 kg/m2.

  • VLCD weight and energy density imply a lower daily energy intake

    Minor

    The stated 642 g daily weight at 2.55 kJ/g supplies 1,637.1 kJ/day (about 1.64 MJ/day), rather than the stated approximately 2.5 MJ/day.

    Reported 2500 · recomputed 1637.1

  • LCD weight and energy density imply a higher daily energy intake

    Minor

    The stated 1,260 g daily weight at 5.2 kJ/g supplies 6,552 kJ/day (6.552 MJ/day), rather than the stated 5.2 MJ/day.

    Reported 5200 · recomputed 6552

  • Baseline period is given as both six and seven days

    Minor

    Consecutive sentences in the experimental design give different durations for the same baseline period.

  • Figure error bars are described as both SEM and 95% confidence intervals

    Minor

    The statistical-analysis section says figure error bars are standard errors of the means, while the legends for Figures 1 and 2 specify 95% confidence intervals.

  • Adaptive thermogenesis is described as 6% of the total-EE decline

    Minor

    The reported adaptive component is -1.0 MJ/day in the VLCD group, compared with a total decline of -1.3 MJ/day-about 77% of that decline, not 6%. The approximately 6% figure describes the adaptive component relative to baseline total EE, not relative to the decline.

7 of 7

Citations

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Metadata

Authors
Siervo, M., Faber, P., Lara, J., Gibney, E. R., Milne, E., Ritz, P., Lobley, G. E., Elia, M., Stubbs, R. J., & Johnstone, A. M.
Affiliations
  • Newcastle University (GB)
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
  • Hôpital Larrey (FR)
  • Southampton General Hospital (GB)
Corresponding author
Siervo, Mario
Venue
Metabolism
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-08
Volume
64
Issue
8
Pages
896-904
ISSN
0026-0495 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2002807366
Cited by
31
References
49
Citations by year
2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2
FWCI
1.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Locations
  • Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • White Rose Research Online (University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, University of York) (acceptedVersion)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
  • Scottish Executive
  • Slimming World, Alfreton, UK
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Diet and metabolism studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Dietary Effects on Health
Keywords
weight loss, energy expenditure, resting energy expenditure, total energy expenditure, adaptive thermogenesis, metabolic adaptation, obesity, very low calorie diet, hypocaloric diet, short-term fasting, body composition
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Adult, Body Composition, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Obesity, Weight Loss, Thermogenesis

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