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Clinical Studies and Practice

Effect of weight loss and regain on adipose tissue distribution, composition of lean mass and resting energy expenditure in young overweight and obese adults

International Journal of Obesity volume 37, pages 1371–1377 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background:

Although weight cycling is frequent in obese patients, the adverse consequences on body composition and an increased propensity to weight gain remain controversial.

Objective:

We investigated the effect of intentional weight loss and spontaneous regain on fat distribution, the composition of lean mass and resting energy expenditure (REE).

Design:

Weight regainers (⩾30% of loss, n=27) and weight-stable subjects (within <±20% of weight change, n=20) were selected from 103 overweight and obese subjects (body mass index 28–43 kg m−2, 24–45 years) who passed a 13-week low-calorie diet intervention. REE and body composition (by densitometry and whole-body magnetic resonance imaging) were examined at baseline, after weight loss and at 6 months of follow-up.

Results:

Mean weight loss was −12.3±3.3 kg in weight-stable subjects and −9.0±4.3 kg in weight regainers (P<0.01). Weight regain was incomplete, accounting for 83 and 42% of weight loss in women and men. Regain in total fat and different adipose tissue depots was in proportion to weight regain except for a higher regain in adipose tissue of the extremities in women and a lower regain in extremity and visceral adipose tissue in men. In both genders, regain in skeletal muscle of the trunk lagged behind skeletal muscle regain at the extremities. In contrast to weight-stable subjects, weight regainers showed a reduced REE adjusted for changes in organ and tissue masses after weight loss (P<0.001).

Conclusion:

Weight regain did not adversely affect body fat distribution. Weight loss-associated adaptations in REE may impair weight loss and contribute to weight regain.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG Mü 714/ 8-3), BMBF Kompetenznetz Adipositas, core domain "Body Composition" (Körperzusammensetzung; FZ 01 GI 1125).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany

    A Bosy-Westphal, B Schautz, M Lagerpusch, M Pourhassan, W Braun, K Goele & M J Müller

  2. Clinic for Diagnostic Radiology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    M Heller

  3. Division of Medical Physics, Clinic for Diagnostic Radiology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    C-C Glüer

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  1. A Bosy-Westphal
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Correspondence to A Bosy-Westphal.

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Author contributions

Study design (AB-W, MJM), MRI protocol (C-CG, MH), data collection (AB-W, KG), image segmentation (BS, WB, MP), data analyses (AB-W, ML), discussion of data and writing of the manuscript (AB-W, MJM).

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Bosy-Westphal, A., Schautz, B., Lagerpusch, M. et al. Effect of weight loss and regain on adipose tissue distribution, composition of lean mass and resting energy expenditure in young overweight and obese adults. Int J Obes 37, 1371–1377 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2013.1

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