Metabolic response to short-term 4-day energy restriction in a controlled study

Effectiveness of a 12-Month Online Weight Reduction Program in Cohorts with Different Baseline BMI-A Prospective Cohort Study

The purpose of this article was to answer the question of whether people who want to reduce their body weight can achieve different results depending on their baseline BMI and whether the rate of weight loss is constant over the months of intervention. The study included 400 individuals aged 19 to 55 years with a mean BMI of 31.83 ± 4.77 (min 25.1 max 51.8). Men comprised 190 subjects and women 210 subjects. The participants were divided into three groups with the following BMI: overweight, class 1 obesity, and obesity class > 1 (class 2 and 3 combined). BMI groups were randomized by gender, the number of trainings per week, training time, intervention length, and intervention type. The online intervention consisted of a 15% energy deficit diet and training. Over the 12-month dietary intervention, overweight subjects reduced average body weight by 16.6%. The group with class 1 obesity reduced body weight by 15.7%. The group with obesity class > 1 reduced mean body weight by 15.4%. The relative weight reduction in the overweight group was significantly greater than in the other obesity groups (p = 0.007). In all groups, the rate of weight loss from month-to-month was statistically significant (p = 0.0001), ranging between 0.6 and 2.6% per month. The results indicate that overweight individuals are likely to experience a percent greater weight loss as a result of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention. Regardless of baseline BMI, the observed weight loss was consistent from month-to-month throughout the 12-month period, which may indicate that the diet, as well as, the training plan were properly tailored to the subjects’ needs and that they were highly motivated to participate in the program throughout its course. Properly conducted lifestyle intervention enables significant weight loss regardless of baseline BMI values.

Intermittent Dieting: Theoretical Considerations for the Athlete

Athletes utilise numerous strategies to reduce body weight or body fat prior to competition. The traditional approach requires continuous energy restriction (CER) for the entire weight loss phase (typically days to weeks). However, there is some suggestion that intermittent energy restriction (IER), which involves alternating periods of energy restriction with periods of greater energy intake (referred to as ‘refeeds’ or ‘diet breaks’) may result in superior weight loss outcomes than CER. This may be due to refeed periods causing transitory restoration of energy balance. Some studies indicate that intermittent periods of energy balance during energy restriction attenuate some of the adaptive responses that resist the continuation of weight and fat loss. While IER—like CER—is known to effectively reduce body fat in non-athletes, evidence for effectiveness of IER in athletic populations is lacking. This review provides theoretical considerations for successful body composition adjustment using IER, with discussion of how the limited existing evidence can be cautiously applied in athlete practice.

Calorie shifting diet versus calorie restriction diet: a comparative clinical trial study

BACKGROUND

Finding new tolerable methods in weight loss has largely been an issue of interest for specialists. Present study compared a novel method of calorie shifting diet (CSD) with classic calorie restriction (CR) on weight loss in overweight and obese subjects.

METHODS

Seventy-four subjects (body mass index ≥25; 37) were randomized to 4 weeks control diet, 6 weeks CSD or CR diets, and 4 weeks follow-up period. CSD consisted of three phases each lasts for 2 weeks, 11 days calorie restriction which included four meals every day, and 4 h fasting between meals follow with 3 days self-selecting diet. CR subjects receive determined low calorie diet. Anthropometric and metabolic measures were assessed at different time points in the study.

RESULTS

Four weeks after treatment, significant weight, and fat loss started (6.02 and 5.15 kg) and continued for 1 month of follow-up (5.24 and 4.3 kg), which was correlated to the restricted energy intake (P < 0.05). During three CSD phases, resting metabolic rate tended to remain unchanged. The decrease in plasma glucose, total cholesterol, and triacylglycerol were greater among subjects on the CSD diet (P < 0.05). Feeling of hunger decreased and satisfaction increased among those on the CSD diet after 4 weeks (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The CSD diet was associated with a greater improvement in some anthropometric measures, Adherence was better among CSD subjects. Longer and larger studies are required to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of CSD diet.

Caffeine treatment prevented from weight regain after calorie shifting diet induced weight loss

Low calorie diets are always difficult for obese subjects to follow and lead to metabolic and behavioral adaptation. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of caffeine treatment with calorie shifting diet (CSD) on weight loss. Female subjects (n=60; BMI≥25) completed 4-weeks control diet, 6-weeks CSD (3 repeated phases; each 2-weeks) and 4-weeks follow-up diet, with or without caffeine treatment (5 mg/Kg/day). The first 11 days of each phase included calorie restriction with four meals every day and 4 hours intervals. Significant weight and fat loss were observed after 4-weeks of CSD (5.7 ± 1.24 Kg and 4.84 ± 1.53 Kg) or CSD+Caffeine (7.57 ± 2.33 Kg and 5.24 ± 2.07 Kg) which was consistent for one month of the follow-up (CSD: 5.24 ± 1.83 Kg and 4.3 ± 1.62 Kg, CSD+Caffeine: 12.11 ± 2.31 Kg and 9.85 ± 1.6 Kg, p < 0.05 vs CSD group) and correlated to the restricted energy intake (p < 0.05). During three CSD phases, RMR tended to remain unchanged in both groups.While, CSD or CSD + Caffeine treatments, significantly decreased plasma glucose, total-cholesterol, and triacylglycerol (p < 0.05), even during follow-up period (p < 0.05). HDL-cholesterol was not changed by CSD. Feeling of hunger decreased and subject's satisfaction increased after 4-weeks of CSD (p < 0.05) and remained low to the end of study, while satiety was not affected. Coffeine increased the effect of CSD on feeling of hunger and subject's satisfaction after week 7 (p < 0.05 vs. CSD). These findings indicated that combination of caffeine treatment with CSD could be an effective alternative approach to weight and fat loss with small changes in RMR and improved tolerance of subjects to the new diet.