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Effect of an acute fast on energy compensation and feeding behaviour in lean men and women

International Journal of Obesity volume 26, pages 1623–1628 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

AIM: Humans appear to defend against energy deficit to a greater extent than energy surplus. Severe dietary energy restriction resulting in 5–30% weight loss often leads to hyperphagia and weight regain in lean subjects. However, the period of time over which fasting is often endured in Western society are far shorter, ∼1–2 days. This study examined how a 36 h fast effected the subsequent day's energy and nutrient intake in a group of 24 healthy, lean men and women.

METHOD: Subjects underwent two 2 day treatments, termed ‘fast’ and ‘maintenance’. During the ‘fast’ treatment, subjects were fed a maintenance diet on the day prior to the fast (day −1) to prevent overeating. They then consumed non-energy drinks only, from 20:00 h on day −1 to 08:00 h on day 2 (ad libitum feeding day), thus fasting for 36 h. On the ‘maintenance’ protocol, subjects received a maintenance diet throughout day 1. Throughout day 2 they had ad libitum access to a range of familiar foods, which were the same for both treatments. Body weight, blood glucose and respiratory quotient were used as compliance checks. Hunger was monitored on day's −1, 1 and 2 for the fast treatment only.

RESULTS: On day 2, average energy intake was 10.2 vs 12.2 MJ/day (s.e.d. 1.0) on the post-maintenance and post-fast periods, respectively (P=0.049). Subjects altered feeding behaviour, in response to the fast, only at breakfast time, selecting a higher-fat meal (P<0.005). Compared to day −1, motivation to eat was elevated during the fast (P<0.05). This continued until breakfast was consumed during the re-feeding period (day 2), when values then returned to baseline.

CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a 36 h fast, which generated a negative energy balance of ∼12 MJ, did not induce a powerful, unconditioned stimulus to compensate on the subsequent day.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Slimming World, Alfreton, UK and SEERAD (Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department).

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Author notes

  1. RJ Stubbs: Member of the Aberdeen Centre for Energy Regulation and Obesity (ACERO).

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK

    AM Johnstone & RJ Stubbs

  2. Department of Anaesthetics, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK

    P Faber

  3. Department of Biological and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK

    ER Gibney

  4. Institute of Human Nutrition, Level C (113), West Wing, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK

    M Elia

  5. Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Rowett Research Institute, Aberdeen, UK

    G Horgan

  6. Department of Child Health, University of Aberdeen, Medical School, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK

    BE Golden

Authors
  1. AM Johnstone
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  2. P Faber
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  3. ER Gibney
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  4. M Elia
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  5. G Horgan
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  7. RJ Stubbs
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Correspondence to AM Johnstone.

Additional information

Part of this work was presented as an abstract at the Nutrition Society Summer Symposium, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, July 1999.

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Johnstone, A., Faber, P., Gibney, E. et al. Effect of an acute fast on energy compensation and feeding behaviour in lean men and women. Int J Obes 26, 1623–1628 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802151

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