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Obesity Treatment: Can Diet Composition Play a Role?
- James O. Hill, PhD;
- Holly Drougas, MS, RD; and
- John C. Peters, PhD
- From the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado; Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee; The Procter & Gamble Company, Ross, Ohio. Requests for Reprints: James O. Hill, PhD, Center for Human Nutrition, Campus Box C225, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262. Grant Support: By National Institutes of Health grants DK42549 and DK38088.
Abstract
Diet composition can play a role in obesity treatment because it can influence energy intake and nutrient balance. The greatest potential effect of diet composition occurs not during weight reduction but during maintenance of a reduced body weight. During weight reduction, the extent of negative energy balance is the greatest determinant of the amount and rate of weight loss, and any effects of diet composition are likely to be very small. Conversely, during the maintenance period after weight reduction, maintenance energy requirements are reduced and the rate of fat oxidation may be low. Prevention of fat storage and regain of body weight can be achieved either by increasing fat oxidation (for example, by increasing exercise) or by reducing the fat content of the habitual diet. The treatment with the greatest chance for success combines a reduced-fat diet with aerobic exercise.
- Copyright 2004 by the American College of Physicians
