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  • Original Article
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Body composition, energy expenditure and physical activity

Less-than-expected weight loss in normal-weight women undergoing caloric restriction and exercise is accompanied by preservation of fat-free mass and metabolic adaptations

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 71, pages 365–371 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Normal-weight women frequently restrict their caloric intake and exercise, but little is known about the effects on body weight, body composition and metabolic adaptations in this population.

Subjects/Methods:

We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial in sedentary normal-weight women. Women were assigned to a severe energy deficit (SEV: −1062±80 kcal per day; n=9), a moderate energy deficit (MOD: −633±71 kcal per day; n=7) or energy balance (BAL; n=9) while exercising five times per week for 3 months. Outcome variables included changes in body weight, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and metabolic hormones associated with energy conservation.

Results:

Weight loss occurred in SEV (−3.7±0.9 kg, P<0.001) and MOD (−2.7±0.8 kg; P=0.003), but weight loss was significantly less than predicted (SEV: −11.1±1.0 kg; MOD: −6.5±1.1 kg; both P<0.001 vs actual). Fat mass declined in SEV (P<0.001) and MOD (P=0.006), whereas fat-free mass remained unchanged in all groups (P>0.33). RMR decreased by −6±2% in MOD (P=0.020). In SEV, RMR did not change on a group level (P=0.66), but participants whose RMR declined lost more weight (P=0.020) and had a higher baseline RMR (P=0.026) than those whose RMR did not decrease. Characteristic changes in leptin (P=0.003), tri-iodothyronine (P=0.013), insulin-like growth factor-1 (P=0.016) and ghrelin (P=0.049) occurred only in SEV. The energy deficit and adaptive changes in RMR explained 54% of the observed weight loss.

Conclusions:

In normal-weight women, caloric restriction and exercise resulted in less-than-predicted weight loss. In contrast to previous literature, weight loss consisted almost exclusively of fat mass, whereas fat-free mass was preserved.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grants RO1-HD-39245-01 (NIW) and M01-RR-10732, and the Department of Kinesiology, Women’s Health and Exercise Laboratory, Penn State University. KK was supported through a Research Fellowship awarded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    K Koehler, M J De Souza & N I Williams

  2. Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA

    K Koehler

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  1. K Koehler
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Correspondence to N I Williams.

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Koehler, K., De Souza, M. & Williams, N. Less-than-expected weight loss in normal-weight women undergoing caloric restriction and exercise is accompanied by preservation of fat-free mass and metabolic adaptations. Eur J Clin Nutr 71, 365–371 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.203

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