"Cell" sub-issue: fatal blow!

The existing weight loss guidelines also mention that when adults lose weight, they need to consume 500-600 kcal per day.

However, a disturbing fact is that 28% of the energy expended through exercise is offset, leaving only 72% of the energy actually expended through exercise

To answer this question, we first need to understand the concept of energy compensation

When the daily activity consumes too much, in order to maintain the energy balance in the body, the energy consumed by the basal metabolism will decrease, that is to say, although the hard running will increase the calorie consumption by 100 kcal (+100), the basal metabolism will decrease by 28 kcal (-28) calorie consumption

As for why the energy compensation mechanism has been preserved during evolution, it may be because in the age of starvation, this mechanism can reduce our need for food and reduce the risk of going out for food

This mechanism is a bit cumbersome when humans really need to worry about eating too much one day

An even more disturbing phenomenon has been revealed recently by an international team of researchers in a research paper titled "Energy compensation and obesity in humans" in Current Biology, a subsidiary of Cell

In fact, the heavier the person, the more energy compensation, the more difficult it is to lose weight through exercise

A total of 1754 individuals were included in this study, including 692 males and 1062 females, aged 18-96 years, with a BMI range of 12.

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This energy compensation did not differ by gender and age, but was strongly associated with BMI

That could be a "hit" conclusion for obese people, said Speakman, the paper's corresponding author

This means that it may be harder for obese people to lose weight through exercise than for thin people

Understanding energy compensation can help develop weight loss strategies for different populations

Exercise may become less effective for weight loss as BMI increases, but this is not mentioned in current weight loss guidelines

It is also worth noting that basal metabolism is the energy expenditure required to maintain the functioning of various organs in the human body
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When energy compensation reduces basal metabolism, will it affect the functions of various organs, such as decreased immune function, poor wound recovery function.
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These questions need future research
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However, people who want to lose weight need not be too pessimistic.
"Energy compensation is not an excuse for not exercising.
Moderate exercise can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and various cancers
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Prevent dementia, prevent further weight gain, or say What about "Life is Movement"?

Retrieved from the original text: Careau V, Halsey LG, Pontzer H, et al.
Energy compensation and adiposity in humans.
Curr Biol.
2021;31(20):4659-4666.
e2.