C'est Juice! Freshly Squeezed by Missy Kia

02.02.05

Metabolism

According to Anne Collins, a weight control "guru", many theorize the body has a predetermined metabolic temperature meaning that once the individual retreats from a restrictive diet, the body pushes them back into their "normal", overweight state. You can read more about this by visiting her site at www.annecollins.com. To read the actual article I'm referencing, go to: www.annecollins.com/weight-control/set-point-theory.htm.

In the article, Ms. Collins refers to a "recent" study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Further research found the article was published in October of 2003 by the lead author, Dr. Roland Weinsier from the University of Alabama. Twenty-four overweight women were followed over a four year span, all of whom lost an average of thirty pounds. Resting metabolic rates were shown to have decreased during the restrictive caloric intake period during which the women were losing weight. Dr. Weinsier states the reason for the lowered metabolism is because it's the body's way of preventing starvation. After the women stopped actively dieting, research indicated their rates returned to "normal". Therefore, Weinsier believes, and the study concludes, the reason for weight regain isn't due to an abnormal metabolic rate, but rather other factors.

I found more information about the actual study, which is published to the web via an Adobe PDF file. That document is located at: http://www-hsc.usc.edu/~goran/PDF%20papers/R34.pdf [NOTE: This link leads directly to the PDF file and will open in a new window. If you do not have an Adobe Acrobat reader or don't wish to open your Acrobat program, don't click the aforementioned link!]

Google provides an HTML cache of the page, which can be opened by clicking here.

While the study didn't provide a definitive reason for weight regain (all 24 test subjects did regain the weight they initially lost), the study did prove it wasn't due to any changes in their normal metabolic ratios. They did theorize that the factors involved in weight regain were because the subjects did not continue on with a good eating and exercise program.

Bottom line? Restricting calories will alter your metabolism and, in most cases, will lower it. However, research has proven once you stop restricting calories, metabolism levels will increase. If you have ordinarily low metabolism, chances are, you'll always have to restrict your intake in order to maintain a slender figure.

Because this page is a "static" page linked via my navigational links, I won't provide a "comment" link to post to HaloScan's service. I don't want to overlook your comments! So if you'd like to comment on this article, please drop me a note or email me! (See the navigational links for more). Thanks!

Miss These?
My Diet Secret
Skinny Resolution
*New* Reduced Fat Menu
Benadryl and Nuts
Jamba Juice

< put de limes in de coconuts >
and shake it all up!
Voila! Smoothie!

Dishing