Energy balance
Obesity is a disorder of the energy homeostasis system involving the biological defense of an elevated body-fat mass set point, rather than simply the passive accumulation of excess calories.
Understand that your body has a biological 'set point' for body fat that it actively defends. This is why weight loss programs often fail long-term; your body fights back by increasing hunger and decreasing energy expenditure. Effective treatment requires addressing this biological defense, not just relying on willpower or specific diet compositions.
Growing evidence suggests that obesity is a disorder of the energy homeostasis system, rather than simply arising from the passive accumulation of excess weight.
Why this rating
This is a high-level scientific statement from the Endocrine Society synthesizing basic science, clinical, and epidemiological literature.
Source
Obesity Pathogenesis: An Endocrine Society Scientific Statement
Michael W. Schwartz et al. · Endocrine Reviews · 2017
DOI 10.1210/er.2017-00111
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
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