Energy Expenditure and Weight Loss Maintenance

Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and threatens both health and quality of life of people around the world. While many individuals succeed at short term weight loss, weight loss maintenance is the greatest barrier to successful treatment of obesity. High levels of physical activity are consistently associated with success in weight loss maintenance. The major goal of this proposal is to understand how and why high levels of physical activity are critical for long term maintenance of weight loss. This project takes advantage of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), which follows over 6000 individuals who have maintained a weight loss of ≥30 pounds for ≥1 year. Understanding how individuals successful at weight loss maintenance achieve energy balance will provide important insight into strategies to help more people sustain a weight loss.

Participants were recruited in three groups: weight loss maintainers (WLM: maintaining ≥13.6 kg weight loss for ≥1 year), normal weight controls (NC: Body Mass Index (BMI) matched to current BMI of WLM), and controls with overweight/obesity (Overweight Controls (OC): BMI matched to pre-weight loss maximum BMI of WLM). The investigators hypothesize that total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) in WLM is similar to OC but is significantly higher then NC. High levels of volitional physical activity may compensate for the reduction in energy expenditure ("energy gap") that is the expected result of weight loss. This allows WLM to maintain a high level of "energy flux", which may facilitate optimal body weight regulation over time. The investigators will use doubly labeled water to compare TDEE in WLM and both NC and OC. The investigators will also compare individual components of TDEE including resting energy expenditure (REE), thermic effect of food (TEF), physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), and physical activity level (PAL) between groups. The investigators also hypothesize that REE in WLM is similar to controls of both types under free living conditions, but will decrease following a period of physical inactivity and be significantly less than controls. Studies in rodents have consistently shown evidence of an increase in metabolic efficiency in the reduced obese state manifested by a lower than predicted REE. Studies in humans have shown mixed results, however few studies have controlled for habitual level of physical activity. Recent evidence suggests REE is greater in adults who perform regular exercise than their sedentary peers; this difference can be attributed in part to greater tonic sympathetic nervous system stimulation of REE that occurs in habitually exercising adults. The investigators believe there is an increase in metabolic efficiency in the reduced obese state manifested by a lower than predicted REE, and that high levels of physical activity function to "mask" or "correct" this metabolic efficiency. The investigators will compare REE under free living conditions and during an experimentally imposed period of reduced energy flux (restricted physical activity matched by an equivalent reduction in energy intake) in WLM and controls.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Men or women
* Age 18-65
* Weight stable (\<10 lb fluctuation in body weight over previous 6 months) or
* NWCR subjects successful at weight loss maintenance (maintaining a loss of ≥ 30 pounds for at least 2 years)
* Non-Reduced Weight Matched Controls: Individuals matched to NWCR subjects' current body weight. These individuals will be normal weight (BMI 18-25, BMI up to 27 allowed in men with waist circumference \< 40 cm), and have no history of overweight or obesity (BMI \>25) and will not be maintaining a weight loss ≥ 30 pounds.
* Non-Reduced Obese Controls: Individuals matched to NWCR subjects' maximum pre-weight loss body weight. These individuals will be overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 26-45).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diabetes
* Uncontrolled HTN (\>160/100)
* History of cardiac disease: CHF or angina, atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, or significant abnormality on resting EKG
* Symptoms suggestive of cardiovascular disease: chest pain, shortness of breath at rest or with mild exertion, dizziness, syncope.
* History of neurological disease: stroke, TIA or seizure disorder
* Current treatment for cancer (except skin)
* Severe pulmonary, liver or kidney disease
* Untreated thyroid disorder
* Severe arthritis or other musculoskeletal disorder
* Alcohol or drug abuse
* Active psychiatric illness
* Positive response to PAR-Q indicating requirement for monitored physical activity
* Other serious medical condition as determined by the investigator which would limit physical activity or require monitored activity.
* Pregnant and lactating women, and women actively trying to become pregnant (post-menopausal women on a stable dose of HRT and pre-menopausal women on a stable OCP regimen will be allowed to participate)
* Smoking within the past 6 months
* Subjects using prescription or over the counter medication which may affect RMR including beta blockers, stimulants such as Ritalin and appetite suppressants.
* Subjects who have undergone bariatric surgery or who are currently maintaining their weight loss with prescription weight loss drugs or supplements.
* Severe claustrophobia
* Moderate or high levels of physical activity at the workplace and unable to reduce workplace activity, work from home or take time off from work to participate in Study 2.
* We will exclude controls if they are weight reduced (maintaining a weight loss of ≥ 30 pounds).