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Cited by 156Regulation of Appetite and ObesityObesity, Physical Activity, DietBody Composition Measurement Techniques

The Dynamics of Human Body Weight Change

Open access
Chow, Carson C., Hall, Kevin D.·2008·PLoS Computational Biology
DOI 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000045PMC PMC2266991
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Abstract

An imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure will lead to a change in body weight (mass) and body composition (fat and lean masses). A quantitative understanding of the processes involved, which currently remains lacking, will be useful in determining the etiology and treatment of obesity and other conditions resulting from prolonged energy imbalance. Here, we show that a mathematical model of the macronutrient flux balances can capture the long-term dynamics of human weight change; all previous models are special cases of this model. We show that the generic dynamic behavior of body composition for a clamped diet can be divided into two classes. In the first class, the body composition and mass are determined uniquely. In the second class, the body composition can exist at an infinite number of possible states. Surprisingly, perturbations of dietary energy intake or energy expenditure can give identical responses in both model classes, and existing data are insufficient to distinguish between these two possibilities. Nevertheless, this distinction has important implications for the efficacy of clinical interventions that alter body composition and mass.

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  • The integrated systems by which the brain and body communicate to regulate body weight may indicate single or multiple set-points for weight that may be difficult to adjust.

    “The integrated systems by which the brain and body communicate to regulate body weight may indicate single or multiple set-points for weight that may be difficult to adjust 12,19–21.”

    From Cellular bioenergetics as a target for obesity therapy (2010) · cites this paper as [21]

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Authors
Chow, C. C., & Hall, K. D.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Chow, Carson C.
ORCID
Venue
PLoS Computational Biology
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2008-03-28
Volume
4
Issue
3
Pages
e1000045
ISSN
  • 1553-734X (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7358
DOI
10.1371/journal.pcbi.1000045
PMC
PMC2266991
OpenAlex
W2103014115
Cited by
156
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 12
FWCI
5.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS Computational Biology (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • arXiv (Cornell University) (public-domain)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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 › Body Composition Measurement Techniques
Keywords
weight change, energy balance, energy expenditure, body composition, fat mass, lean body mass, obesity, mathematical model, dynamical systems, multiple steady states, energy intake
MeSH terms
Body Composition, Computer Simulation, Eating, Energy Metabolism, Humans, Kinetics, Models, Biological, Obesity, Weight Gain, Weight Loss

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