THE CALORIC VALUE OF LABILE BODY TISSUE IN OBESE SUBJECTS

Abstract

The caloric equivalent of variable weight and the average daily caloric expenditure were estimated by alternation of dietary intake between surplus and deficit to produce cyclical oscillations of body weight. On statistical analysis, the changes in weight specifically correlated with the dietary variations were separated from a general trend and from random changes due to fluctuation of water balance and errors of measurement. In this study of 5 obese women it appeared that the primary reservoirs of energy had a low caloric value per unit weight, probably less than 2.5 calories/g. This finding was interpreted as evidence that a considerable amount of water is stored and released as a part of the caloric response. The daily requirement for maintenance of patients on a milk formula was 20.2-24.4 calories/kg day; values similar to these were reported necessary for maintenance of obese women on normal mixed diets.