In the obese, metabolic adaptations post-weight loss lead to regaining of s...( (June 28 2004) -- Bethesda MD - Afte...)

(June 28, 2004) -- Bethesda, MD - After months of torturous dieting, there is nothing more frustrating than to find that the lost weight has returned. Many dieters are shocked to see they have returned to their original weight despite modifications in exercise and eating habits. Now a new animal study reveals that when loss occurs, metabolic adaptations occur that mandate a return of the undesired pounds.

Background

These findings address a key question of whether regaining loss weight due to dieting is caused by metabolic or behavioral changes. The common belief is that the metabolic state after weight loss promotes weight regain. However, data germane to this supposition has been controversial and equivocal.

The failure to reach definitive conclusions in between these studies is linked to the way metabolic mass is estimated, the selection of research subjects, and the methods of weight loss and weight maintenance. Human studies are impractical, because there is no way to identify individuals predisposed to the development of obesity. Even if such identification was possible, it would be difficult to follow them throughout the protracted course of the development, treatment, and recurrence of their obese state.

Rats offer a better opportunity to address this issue. The ability to select obesity-prone rats, coupled with the shorter lifespan of the test animals and a better ability to control environmental conditions, offers researchers the opportunity to examine the metabolic state of an obese rat.

A New Study

This is the framework of a study performed through an assessment of indirect calorimetry, the balance of energy and fuel utilization in these obesity-prone rats throughout five stages of obesity development, treatment, and recurrence. Those stages are (1) pre-obesity; (2) established obesity; (3) weight-reduced; (4) weight-reduced after a period of weight maintenance; and (5) weight-re
'"/>


29-Jun-2004

Page: 1 2 3 4 5
Related biology news :

1. Gestational diabetes not found to alter the metabolic processes in obese pregnant women
2. New studies show Curves Program raises metabolic rate in overweight and sedentary women
3. Microbial biofilm yields community genomes, metabolic clues
4. Type 2 diabetes linked to a family of metabolic genes
5. Researchers study metabolic, cardiovascular effects of caffeine consumed with naringin
6. Lower insulin sensitivity found In Mexican-Americans, regardless of behavioral and metabolic factors
7. Another job discovered for a master metabolic off-switch
8. New metabolic switches discovered
9. Genes that dictate metabolic processes in an ancient life form being identified by Virginia Tech biochemist
10. Secret channel holds key to metabolic mysteries
11. UF researchers reverse metabolic disorder in mice