obese person (Photo : Reuters)
While people often blame their bodies' slow metabolism as an excuse to not diet, a new study shows that it indeed can be a significant weight loss factor. The study shows for the first time ever that physiological differences can affect a person's response to caloric intake and cause belly fat.
The research about weight-loss and metabolism was conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The study discovered that one of two people with the same build and diet can experience physiological changes, due to his or her metabolism rate, according to Nature World Report..
Dr.Susanne Votruba, the study's author, said that when obese people start dieting, their metabolic responses can differ greatly. A "thirfty" metabolism might cause less weight loss.
Votruba explained that behavioral factors such as sticking to a diet can affect weight loss somewhat. However, the study reveals that having a slow metabolism is part of the "larger picture" that factors in people's different physiology.
The NIH study included 12 men and women who were clinically obese. A key tool the researchers used was an "indirect calorimeter" in one whole room.
An indirect calorimeter allows scientists to use air samples to calculate people's caloric expenditure. They conducted a 6-week test phase, in which the study's participants' calorie intake was lowered by 50 percent.
The researchers learned that the individuals who lost the least weight during the period of calorie reduction were those whose metabolisms dropped the most while fasting. In other words, "thrifty" metabolism drops more during reduced calorie intake.
Dr. Martin Reinhardt, the study's lead author, explained that the results show that some obese people will have more difficulty losing weight, due to their lower metabolisms. However, a balanced diet and regular exercise can still be "very effective."
Human willpower is a limited resource, and dieters who see little weight loss progress might stop dieting. The new study's findings might encourage them because their metabolism has a significant effect in burning fat and losing weight.
Two-thirds of Americans are classified as "overweight," and over one-third are "obese." Obesity can cause weight-related diseases such as type-2 diabetes and heart disease, according to Examiner.
