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Cited by 101Regulation of Appetite and ObesityDiet and metabolism studiesDiet, Metabolism, and Disease

Food quotient, respiratory quotient, and energy balance

Westerterp, KR·1993·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.1093/ajcn/57.5.759s
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Abstract

This paper reviews evidence that the macro-nutrient composition of the diet and the maintenance of energy balance are correlated. Intervention studies show that subjects lose weight on low-fat diets and gain weight on high-fat diets. Descriptive studies show that overweight subjects eat relatively more fat but have the same total energy intake as nonoverweight subjects. The body has a limited ability to oxidize fat compared with its ability to oxidize carbohydrate and protein. The conclusion is that becoming overweight can be prevented by reducing the fat content of the diet. Studies on nutrient utilization show a ready increase in carbohydrate oxidation whereas fat oxidation does not change after meals enriched with, respectively, carbohydrate or fat. However, in the long term, the respiratory quotient (RQ) is closer to the food quotient (FQ) for subjects eating high-fat diets than it is for subjects eating high-carbohydrate diets. For high-carbohydrate diets, the RQ is lower than is the FQ, indicating that subjects must mobilize body fat. This is supported by data on body weight loss in subjects changing from a standard maintenance diet to a low-fat diet, even while energy intake was increased with nearly 20%. Direct evidence for a higher energy expenditure for low-fat diets is not yet available.

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Crossref · 10.1093/ajcn/57.5.759s

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22 of 22 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • FQ must equal respiratory quotient (RQ) over long periods (i.e., several days) in weight- and nutrient-stable subjects, and are therefore preferable to RQ measurements from relatively short (approximately 20 min) RMR trials.

    “FQ must equal respiratory quotient (RQ) over long periods (i.e., several days) in weight- and nutrient-stable subjects (31), and are therefore preferable to RQ measurements from relatively short (approximately 20 min) RMR trials.”

    From Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans. (2010) · cites this paper as [31]

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Authors
Westerterp, K.
Venue
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1993-05
Volume
57
Issue
5
Pages
759S-765S
ISSN
0002-9165 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/ajcn/57.5.759s
OpenAlex
W1884195209
Cited by
101
References
22
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
FWCI
2.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Diet and metabolism studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diet, Metabolism, and Disease
Keywords
respiratory quotient, energy balance, macronutrient composition, low-fat diet, high-fat diet, overweight prevention, fat oxidation, carbohydrate oxidation, body fat mobilization, weight loss, energy expenditure, energy intake
MeSH terms
Energy Intake, Diet, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Fats, Energy Metabolism, Female, Humans, Male, Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Obesity, Oxidation-Reduction

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