Energy balance
Metabolic adaptation (reduced resting metabolic rate beyond prediction based on body composition) persists for at least six years after massive weight loss from extreme caloric restriction and exercise, contradicting claims that baseline measurement errors or stress artifacts explain the finding.
If you have lost a significant amount of weight, expect your metabolism to slow down more than predicted by your new size alone. This is a biological reality, not a personal failure. This adaptation can persist for years, meaning you will likely need to maintain a lower calorie intake or higher activity level than someone who never was obese to keep the weight off. Plan for long-term management, not a quick fix.
The mean metabolic adaptation calculated using this equation is mathematically identical to the value we reported and therefore invalidates the claim that the high y-intercept could negate our results.
Why this rating
Based on a robust longitudinal study with repeated measures and rigorous statistical controls for body composition, though it is a single cohort.
Source
Response to “Overstated metabolic adaptation after ‘The Biggest Loser’ intervention”
Kevin D. Hall et al. · Obesity · 2016
DOI 10.1002/oby.21635
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