Energy Balance and Obesity

Abstract

This paper describes the interplay among energy intake, energy expenditure and body energy stores and illustrates how an understanding of energy balance can help develop strategies to reduce obesity. First, reducing obesity will require modifying both energy intake and energy expenditure and not simply focusing on either alone. Food restriction alone will not be effective in reducing obesity if human physiology is biased toward achieving energy balance at a high energy flux (i.e. at a high level of energy intake and expenditure). In previous environments a high energy flux was achieved with a high level of physical activity but in today's sedentary environment it is increasingly achieved through weight gain. Matching energy intake to a high level of energy expenditure will likely be more a more feasible strategy for most people to maintain a healthy weight than restricting food intake to meet a low level of energy expenditure. Second, from an energy balance point of view we are likely to be more successful in preventing excessive weight gain than in treating obesity. This is because the energy balance system shows much stronger opposition to weight loss than to weight gain. While large behavior changes are needed to produce and maintain reductions in body weight, small behavior changes may be sufficient to prevent excessive weight gain. In conclusion, the concept of energy balance combined with an understanding of how the body achieves balance may be a useful framework in helping develop strategies to reduce obesity rates.

Metabolic profile and spontaneous physical activity modulation under short-term food restriction in young rats.

“…Therefore, efforts in order to identify the mechanisms involved in SPA regulation have been made 4 and despite the recognition of some peptides, hormones, their targets and communication 4 , the complex control of SPA currently remains under investigation 5,6,7 . Santos-Pinto 8 consistently postulated that the total daily energy expenditure, which is given by the sum of energy spent through thermic effect of food, resting metabolic rate and physical activity 9 , is modulated in relation to food intake 8 . It is well established that disproportional energy intake in relation to energy spent towards positive energy balance chronically leads to catastrophic consequences, firstly characterized by obesity and then ectopic fat deposition in many tissues, such as liver, kidney and heart, promoting insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.…”

Respon Aktivitas Tikus Wistar Jantan Akibat Kondisi Diet Tinggi Sukrosa Diukur Menggunakan Perekam Aktivitas

“…Secara umum, energi dalam aktivitas ini diperoleh dari hasil penyerapan maupun metabolis dari cadangan energi yang akan dikeluarkan melalui kegiatan fisik seperti berlari ataupun bermain (Hill 2012). Pada kondisi diet energi berlebih, pusat kenyang akan diaktifasi dan menurunkan sekresi epinefrin sehingga aktivitas tubuh dalam mencari makan akan menurun.…”

Macro fat and micro fat: insulin sensitivity and gender dependent response of adipose tissue to isocaloric diet change

“…2,3 It is well known that the net energy intake level can lead to increase or loss of fat mass and body weight. 4 Even diet composition (percent of carbohydrate, protein and fat) can induce changes in body composition. 5,6 Adipose tissue is composed of a large number of adipose cells with cell sizes ranging from less than 20 microns to over 200 microns, and thus a thousand fold difference in lipid storage capacity.…”