Original Article
International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, 177–184; doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803712; published online 11 September 2007
Individual variability following 12 weeks of supervised exercise: identification and characterization of compensation for exercise-induced weight loss
A brief report of this work was presented at the 10th ICO in Sydney, 2007.
N A King1, M Hopkins1, P Caudwell1, R J Stubbs2,3 and J E Blundell1
- 1Biopsychology Group, Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- 2Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK
Correspondence: Dr NA King, Biopsychology Group, Institute of Psychological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. E-mail: n.king@leeds.ac.uk
3The author has now moved from the Rowett Research Institute to Slimming World, Clover Nook Road, Somercotes, Alfreton, Derbyshire, UK.
Received 23 January 2007; Revised 23 June 2007; Accepted 20 July 2007; Published online 11 September 2007.
Abstract
Objective:
To identify and characterize the individual variability in compensation for exercise-induced changes in energy expenditure (EE).
Design:
Twelve-week exercise intervention.
Subjects:
Thirty-five overweight and obese sedentary men and women (body mass index, 31.8
4.1 kg m-2; age, 39.611.0 years) were prescribed exercise five times per week for 12 weeks under supervised conditions.
Measurements:
Body weight, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), total daily energy intake (EI) and subjective appetite sensations were measured at weeks 0 and 12.
Results:
When all subjects' data were pooled, the mean reduction in body weight (3.73.6 kg) was significant (P<0.0001) and as predicted, which suggested no compensation for the increase in EE. However, further examination revealed a large individual variability in weight change (-14.7 to +1.7 kg). Subjects were identified as compensators (C) or noncompensators (NC) based on their actual weight loss (mean NC=6.33.2 kg and C=1.5 2.5 kg) relative to their predicted weight loss. C and NC were characterized by their different metabolic and behavioural compensatory responses. Moderate changes in RMR occurred in C (-69.2268.7 kcal day-1) and NC (14.2242.7 kcal day-1). EI and average daily subjective hunger increased by 268.2455.4 kcal day-1 and 6.911.4 mm day-1 in C, whereas EI decreased by 130485 kcal day-1 and there was no change in subjective appetite (0.49.6 mm day-1) in NC.
Conclusion:
These results demonstrate that expressing the exercise-induced change in body weight as a group mean conceals the large inter-individual variability in body weight and compensatory responses. Individuals who experience a lower than predicted weight loss are compensating for the increase in EE.
Keywords:
exercise, compensation, energy balance
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