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  • Review Article
  • Published:

Personalized weight loss strategies—the role of macronutrient distribution

Nature Reviews Endocrinology volume 10, pages 749–760 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Key Points

  • The relative contributions of different aetiological factors to obesity remain to be fully defined, although the importance of different dietary macronutrients, physical activity patterns and genetics is acknowledged

  • Improved understanding of the mechanisms of weight gain and obesity might lead to comprehensive and efficient strategies to prevent and ameliorate this global epidemic

  • Studies of the roles of individual macronutrients in weight management are needed to define whether diets of similar calorific content but different composition differentially affect energy yield and utilization

  • Experts generally agree that weight-loss strategies should aim to not only reduce body fat in the short term, but also achieve long-term maintenance of healthy body weight

  • The study of gene–nutrient interactions and the differential effects of genotype on macronutrient utilization might identify personalized strategies for effective weight loss and maintenance of healthy body weight

Abstract

A large number of different dietary approaches have been studied in an attempt to achieve healthy, sustainable weight loss among individuals with overweight and obesity. Restriction of energy intake is the primary method of producing a negative energy balance leading to weight loss. However, owing to the different metabolic roles of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids in energy homeostasis, diets of similar overall energy content but with different macronutrient distribution can differentially affect metabolism, appetite and thermogenesis. Evidence increasingly suggests that the fuel values of calories provided by distinct macronutrients should be considered separately, as metabolism of specific molecular components generates differences in energy yield. The causes of variation in individual responses to various diets are currently under debate, and some evidence suggests that differences are associated with specific genotypes. This Review discusses all available systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and summarizes the results of relevant randomized controlled intervention trials assessing the influence of macronutrient composition on weight management. The initial findings of research into personalized nutrition, based on the interactions of macronutrient intake and genetic background and its potential influence on dietary intervention strategies, are also discussed.

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Acknowledgements

J.A.M. and S.N.-C. are grateful to CIBERobn (CIBER of Physiopathology of Obesity, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28,029 Madrid, Spain) for financial support of their research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Nutrition Research, CIBERobn (Fisiopatología de la obesidad), University of Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 1, Pamplona, 31008, Navarra, Spain

    J. Alfredo Martinez & Santiago Navas-Carretero

  2. Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht (NUTRIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, Netherlands

    Wim H. M. Saris

  3. Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports (NEXS), Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, Frederiksberg C, DK-1958, Denmark

    Arne Astrup

Authors
  1. J. Alfredo Martinez
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  2. Santiago Navas-Carretero
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  3. Wim H. M. Saris
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  4. Arne Astrup
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Contributions

J.A.M. and S.N.-C. researched data for the article and wrote the manuscript; J.A.M, S.N.-C., W.H.M.S. and A.A. provided substantial contributions to discussions of the content, and reviewed or edited the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to J. Alfredo Martinez.

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Competing interests

W.H.M.S. declares that he has acted as a consultant for Nutrition and Santé, is a member of the advisory boards of Food for Health and International Life Sciences Institute Research Foundation, is a member of review panels for INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research), MRC (Medical Research Council) and NordForsk, and that he is employed part-time as Corporate Scientist in Nutrition at Dutch States Mines. A.A. declares that he has acted as a consultant or member of the advisory boards for the following companies and organizations: Beer Knowledge Institute, Global Dairy Platform, McCain, McDonalds and Pathway Genomics, and he has received lecture fees from Arla Foods and Campina. W.H.M.S. declares that his institution (Maastricht University Medical Centre) receives research support from the Dutch Dairy Foundation and Novo Nordisk and A.A. declares that his department at the University of Copenhagen has received research support from more than 100 food companies. J.A.M. and S.N.-C. declare no competing interests.

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Martinez, J., Navas-Carretero, S., Saris, W. et al. Personalized weight loss strategies—the role of macronutrient distribution. Nat Rev Endocrinol 10, 749–760 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2014.175

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