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Sexual dimorphism in the energy content of weight change

International Journal of Obesity volume 26, pages 1339–1348 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The energy content of weight change is assumed to be sex- and age-neutral at 3500 kcal/pound or 32.2 MJ/kg.

OBJECTIVES: As sexual dimorphism in body composition generally exists in mammals, the primary hypothesis advanced and tested was that the energy content of weight change differs between men and women.

DESIGN: The energy content of 129 adult men and 287 women was measured by neutron activation analysis. Cross-sectional energy content prediction models were developed and then evaluated in two longitudinal samples: one that used the same methods in 26 obese women losing weight; and the other a compilation of 18 previously reported weight change–body composition studies.

RESULTS: Multiple regression modeling identified weight, sex, age and height as total energy content predictor variables with significant sex×weight (P<0.001) and age×weight (P<0.001) interactions; total model r2 and s.e.e. were 0.89 and 107.3 MJ, respectively. The model's predictive value was supported in both longitudinal evaluation samples. Model calculations using characteristics of representative adults gaining or losing weight suggested that the energy content of weight change in women (∼30.1–32.2 MJ/kg) is near to the classical value of 32.2 MJ/kg and that in men the value is substantially lower, ∼21.8–23.8 MJ/kg. The predicted energy content of weight change increases by about 10% in older (age ∼70 y) vs younger (∼35 y) men and women.

CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dimorphism and age-dependency appears to exist in the estimated energy content of weight change and these observations have important clinical and research implications.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by National Institutes of Health Grants RR00645 and NIDDK 42618, 51716, 26687.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York Obesity Research Center, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA

    A Pietrobelli, S Heshka, M Heo, ZM Wang, A Bertkau, B Laferrère, M Rosenbaum, FX Pi-Sunyer & SB Heymsfield

  2. Pediatric Unit, Verona University Medical School, Verona, Italy

    A Pietrobelli

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Section on Statistical Genetics and Center for Research on Clinical Nutrition, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, USA

    DB Allison

  4. Department of Medicine, Winthrop-University Hospital, Minneola, New York, USA

    JF Aloia

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  1. A Pietrobelli
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Correspondence to SB Heymsfield.

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Pietrobelli, A., Allison, D., Heshka, S. et al. Sexual dimorphism in the energy content of weight change. Int J Obes 26, 1339–1348 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802065

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