Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental
Volume 59, Issue 4 , Pages 478-485, April 2010

Interindividual variations in resting metabolic rate during weight loss in obese postmenopausal women:

A pilot study

  • Martin Sénéchal

      Affiliations

    • Research Centre on Aging, Social Services and Health Centre-University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 4C4
    • Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sherbrooke, Canada J1K 2R1
  • ,
  • Hélène Arguin

      Affiliations

    • Division of Kinesiology, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada J1K 7P4
  • ,
  • Danielle R. Bouchard

      Affiliations

    • Research Centre on Aging, Social Services and Health Centre-University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 4C4
    • Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sherbrooke, Canada J1K 2R1
  • ,
  • André C. Carpentier

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Centre, University Hospital Centre of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1H 5N4
  • ,
  • Jean-Luc Ardilouze

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Centre, University Hospital Centre of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada J1H 5N4
  • ,
  • Isabelle J. Dionne

      Affiliations

    • Research Centre on Aging, Social Services and Health Centre-University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 4C4
    • Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sherbrooke, Canada J1K 2R1
  • ,
  • Martin Brochu

      Affiliations

    • Research Centre on Aging, Social Services and Health Centre-University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 4C4
    • Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sherbrooke, Canada J1K 2R1
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Research Centre on Aging, Social Services and Health Centre-University Institute of Geriatrics of Sherbrooke, Canada J1H 4C4. Tel.: +1 819 821 1170x45326; fax: +1 819 829 7141.

Received 19 December 2008; accepted 3 July 2009. published online 21 October 2009.

Abstract 

The objective of the study was to examine if decreases in resting metabolic rate (RMR) take place early in the weight loss process and if they remain throughout the duration of the weight loss intervention. Twenty obese postmenopausal women (61.8 ± 5.9 years) participated in a 15-week weight loss program. After the fifth week, subjects were characterized as having an increased (>5%) or a decreased (<5%) RMR based on baseline values. Afterward, they were followed for an additional 10 weeks. Outcome measures were as follows: fat mass ([FM] total, trunk), lean body mass (total, trunk), RMR, resting heart rate (RHR), and physical activity level. After 5 weeks, significant decreases were observed for lean body mass, FM, and RHR (P < .05), whereas no overall changes in physical activity level and RMR were observed. However, on an individual basis, large variations in RMR were observed (ranging from −320 to +330 kcal/d). Analyses showed that subjects characterized as either having an increased or a decreased RMR after the fifth week maintained these adaptations at the end of intervention. Finally, subjects displaying a decreased RMR during weight loss had a significantly higher RMR and lower FM accumulations at baseline (total and trunk) compared with those with an increased RMR. Interindividual variations in RMR took place early in the weight loss process and were maintained over the duration of the weight loss program in our cohort of obese postmenopausal women. Baseline RMR, changes in RHR, and FM accumulations (total and trunk) seem to be important factors to consider when studying the effects of weight loss on RMR.

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PII: S0026-0495(09)00354-0

doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2009.07.037

Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental
Volume 59, Issue 4 , Pages 478-485, April 2010