Metabolic adaptation to weight loss: implications for the athlete
Trexler ET, Smith-Ryan AE, Norton LE
Evidence is still limited and needs further study
Summary
A narrative review organising the metabolic adaptations that accompany weight loss in the context of athletes. Energy restriction is accompanied by changes in circulating hormones, mitochondrial efficiency and energy expenditure that act to minimise the energy deficit, attenuate weight loss and promote weight regain. The review then offers recommendations for successful weight reduction and long-term reduced-weight maintenance.
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- The text of this record has been checked against the original abstractWhat was checked: measured outcomes, study design, population studiedA narrative review, so there is no sample size. The abstract reports no figures or effect sizes, only the review's scope.
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Key findings
- 1
Energy restriction is accompanied by changes in circulating hormones, mitochondrial efficiency and energy expenditure.
- 2
These changes act to minimise the energy deficit, attenuate weight loss and promote weight regain.
- 3
This is a narrative review; it does not quantitatively pool effect sizes for any specific intervention such as cheat days or diet breaks.
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