Metabolic and body composition changes during rapid and massive weight loss

National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases

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Abstract

We studied sixteen contestants from season 8 of the The Biggest Loser and measured changes in total energy expenditure, resting metabolic rate, and body composition over the course of a 7 month competition. The study participants lost almost 40% of their starting body weight bringing them from morbid obesity to just at upper edge of the overweight category according to BMI. We found that participants were able to preserve their lean tissue mass through vigorous exercise, despite massive overall weight loss. The participants also experienced substantial improvements in their metabolic health. The study found that the contestants metabolism slowed quickly and disproportionately to their weight loss and this adaptation impeded the rate of weight loss and may predispose this group to regaining weight following the competition.