|
| 
|
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
142,637 registered members
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Body 'designed' to resist weight loss
[Posted: Wed 30/08/2006 - www.irishhealth.com]
Dieters take note - the human body is designed to strongly resist attempts to lose weight, obesity experts will be told this week.
According to Dr Neil King of the Queensland University of Technology, which is hosting the meeting, our bodies have strong mechanisms to defend attempts to lose weight but very weak mechanisms to prevent weight gain.
Dr King carried out two studies on weight loss, which involved two different groups of overweight and obese people. The studies demonstrated the 'plateau effect', whereby weight loss from exercise and calorie restrictions stops at a certain point.
"The 'plateau effect' has been known about for some time and weight management consultants recommend longer exercise times, higher intensity or cross training to combat it. But these studies show that a plateau in body weight occurs even in the face of a continued negative energy balance", Dr King said.
In the first study, the subjects' energy deficit was caused by exercise only, while in the second study, the subjects used diet and exercise to lose weight.
According to Dr King, the first group's weight loss during the first eight weeks averaged 3kg (6-7lbs), but then 'plateaued' at week eight. Weight loss for the next four weeks was then markedly reduced (0.7kg).
The second group had a variable pattern of weight loss, but it too showed a 'plateau'.
"There appears to be little at this stage to predict the onset, duration and frequency of the plateau. My research now aims to identify and characterise mechanisms responsible for our inbuilt weight loss resistance", Dr King said.
He added that the body's energy balance system was programme to cope with famine, 'not the current obesogenic environment which enforces inactivity and a plentiful food supply'.
Dr King will present his findings at two international obesity meetings in Australia between August 31 and September 8.
|
| To join the discussion, register by clicking here |
|
QUICK LINKS: asthma | arthritis | psoriasis | crohn's | heart | epilepsy | eczema | osteoporosis | pregnancy | depression | alzheimer | cancer | sex | anxiety | overweight |
 |
About Irishhealth.com | Privacy Policy | Contact us | Why Register? | Make this your home page | Site Map |  |
| Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved. We subscribe to the principles of the Health On the Net Foundation |
