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Comments on “The role of appetite-related hormones, adaptive thermogenesis, perceived hunger and stress in long-term weight-loss maintenance: a mixed-methods study”

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 1113–1114 (2020)Cite this article

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Thom et al. [1] have recently published a very interesting manuscript on “The role of appetite-related hormones, adaptive thermogenesis, perceived hunger and stress in long-term weight-loss maintenance: a mixed-methods study”. Despite the small sample of the study (n = 15), the questions aimed to be addressed were of great clinical significance. The study aimed to ascertain if appetite-related hormones, adaptive thermogenesis, perceived hunger and stress influence weight loss maintenance.

The authors concluded, among other things, that weight regain was more likely with a greater reduction in GLP-1 after weight loss. Two important aspects need to be taken into account to ascertain the validity and clinical relevance of this finding. The first is that the conclusion is not based on the data presented. In the abstract, results section, the authors state that “Weight regain between 6 and 24 months (6.1 ± 6.3 kg, P < 0.05) was correlated positively with change in GLP-1 (r = 0.5, P = 0.037), meaning that a smaller reduction, or greater increase, in fasting plasma concentrations of GLP-1 are associated with more weight regain. This can be clearly seen in Fig. 4C: the greater the reduction in GLP-1 with weight loss, the less was the weight regain. However, and despite this, the authors conclude in the abstract that “Weight regain is more likely with greater reduction in GLP-1 after weight loss”, which is not in line with their results. Moreover, in the discussion (end of first paragraph), the authors state that: “This study suggests that individuals with lower reduction in GLP-1 during diet-induced weight loss, can be expected to be more successful at weight-loss maintenance”. This is again repeated in the overall conclusion of the manuscript: “In conclusion, our findings imply that lower reduction in GLP-1 during diet-induced weight loss form part of a favorable biological profile for long-term weight-loss maintenance”. This is opposite to what is stated in the results section in the abstract and main body of the manuscript: “a smaller reduction, or larger increase, in GLP-1 is associated with more weight regain (increase in body weight between 6 and 24 months).” These discrepancies need to be addressed and the manuscript changed accordingly.

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References

  1. Thom G, Dombrowski SU, Brosnahan N, Algindan YY, Rosario Lopez-Gonzalez M, Roditi G, et al. The role of appetite-related hormones, adaptive thermogenesis, perceived hunger and stress in long-term weight-loss maintenance: a mixed-methods study. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2020;74:622–32.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obesity Research Group, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway

    Catia Martins

  2. Centre for Obesity and Innovation (ObeCe), Clinic of Surgery, St. Olavs University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

    Catia Martins

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  1. Catia Martins
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Correspondence to Catia Martins.

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Martins, C. Comments on “The role of appetite-related hormones, adaptive thermogenesis, perceived hunger and stress in long-term weight-loss maintenance: a mixed-methods study”. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 1113–1114 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0650-3

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