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Effect of diet composition on energy expenditure during weight loss: the POUNDS LOST Study

International Journal of Obesity volume 36, pages 448–455 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

Weight loss reduces energy expenditure, but the contribution of different macronutrients to this change is unclear.

Hypothesis:

We tested the hypothesis that macronutrient composition of the diet might affect the partitioning of energy expenditure during weight loss.

Design:

A substudy of 99 participants from the Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies (POUNDS LOST) trial had total energy expenditure (TEE) measured by doubly labeled water, and resting energy expenditure (REE) measured by indirect calorimetry at baseline and repeated at 6 months in 89 participants. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four diets with either 15 or 25% protein and 20 or 40% fat.

Results:

TEE and REE were positively correlated with each other and with fat-free mass and body fat, at baseline and 6 months. The average weight loss of 8.1±0.65 kg (least-square mean±s.e.) reduced TEE by 120±56 kcal per day and REE by 136±18 kcal per day. A greater weight loss at 6 months was associated with a greater decrease in TEE and REE. Participants eating the high-fat diet (HF) lost significantly more fat-free mass (1.52±0.55 kg) than the low-fat (LF) diet group (P<0.05). Participants eating the LF diet had significantly higher measures of physical activity than the HF group.

Conclusion:

A greater weight loss was associated with a larger decrease in both TEE and REE. The LF diet was associated with significant changes in fat-free body mass and energy expenditure from physical activity compared with the HF diet.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Grant HL-073286 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. We thank the participants in the trial for their dedication and contribution to the research. We thank the following research staff members for their assistance in conducting the trial: Jungnam Joo, Ph.D and Charlotte A. Pratt, Ph.D at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Patricia Copeland, M.S., R.D. at the Harvard School of Public Health; Cassandra Carrington, Jacqueline Gallagher, Clota Heazel, Megan Reddy, Alison Barr, M.S.,R.D., Mary Dinehart, M.S.,R.D., Marit Pywell, R.D., Dawn Quintino, M.S., R.D., Audrey Shweky, M.S.,R.D., Benjamin Harshfield and Melissa Mcnery-Stonelake at the Brigham and Women's Hospital; Frank L. Greenway, M.D., Julia St. Amant, Elizabeth Tucker, Heidi K. Millet, Marisa M. Smith. Sara J. Schoen, R.D., L.D.N., Betsy B. Bernhard, Courtney Brock, R.D., Laura DeCuir Moran, R.D., Katherine Lastor, R.D., Erma Levy, M.P.H., R.D., Lisa Miller R.D., Gina Pennington R.D., Dana Vieselmeyer, M.P.H., R.D., Marlene Afton, Lindsay Coates, Dawn Turner, Richard Dale Achord, Bridget Conner, Margaret Graves, Doris Hoffpauir, Carla Kimmel, Steve Lee, Kelli Melancon, Sandra Richard, Stacey Roussel, Elizabeth Soroe, Denise Stein, Jamie Tuminello, Ray Allen, Eric LeBlanc and Connie Murla at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. We also thank the members of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board: Barbara V. Howard, Ph.D (Chair), Phyllis E. Bowen, PhD, Daniel W. Jones, MD, Michael G. Perri, PhD, David M. Reboussin, PhD and Marcia L. Stefanick, PhD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    G A Bray, S R Smith, L DeJonge, R de Souza, J Rood, C M Champagne, N Laranjo, V Carey, E Obarzanek, C M Loria, S D Anton, D H Ryan, F L Greenway, D Williamson & F M Sacks

  2. Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School-Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    G A Bray, S R Smith, L DeJonge, R de Souza, J Rood, C M Champagne, N Laranjo, V Carey, E Obarzanek, C M Loria, S D Anton, D H Ryan, F L Greenway, D Williamson & F M Sacks

  3. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    G A Bray, S R Smith, L DeJonge, R de Souza, J Rood, C M Champagne, N Laranjo, V Carey, E Obarzanek, C M Loria, S D Anton, D H Ryan, F L Greenway, D Williamson & F M Sacks

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  1. G A Bray
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Correspondence to G A Bray.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Author contributions

The POUNDS LOST Study was designed by Dr Frank Sacks and Dr George Bray. The double labeled water substudy was designed by Dr George Bray and refined by Drs Steven Smith, Jennifer Rood, Donna Ryan and Eva Obarzanek. The manuscript was drafted by George Bray and revised by all authors, and all authors take responsibility for its content.

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Bray, G., Smith, S., DeJonge, L. et al. Effect of diet composition on energy expenditure during weight loss: the POUNDS LOST Study. Int J Obes 36, 448–455 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.173

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