Weight Reduction in Obese Young Men

Abstract

Nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus metabolism, on a constant intake of the three nutrients, was studied in 8 obese young men by means of 7-day balance studies in a pre-reduction period of weight maintenance, at the 4th and 8th weeks of weight reduction and at the 4th week of post-reduction weight maintenance. Weight losses in the 8-week reduction period ranged from 13.4 to 27.5 lb. with a mean of 22.6 and a median of 23.6 lb. Weight losses appeared to be related to initial body weights. Four of the 8 subjects went from nitrogen and phosphorus retention or equilibrium in the pre-reduction period to nitrogen and phosphorus loss during the period of caloric restriction. Within the limits of the experiment the losses did not appear to increase with prolongation of the reduction period. Relief of caloric restriction was accompanied by return to equilibrium or retention with respect to these nutrients but at a lower level. In contrast to women subjects studied previously, only three of the 8 men went into calcium deficit and the deficit occurred early in the weight reduction period with subsequent return to calcium equilibrium in the later stages of reduction. No satisfactory explanation is given for the changes in calcium retentions; they are discussed in terms of the emotional stability and relative rate of weight loss in the subjects. In 7 of the 8 subjects 24-hour basal caloric requirements decreased during weight reduction; the mean decrease was 150 Cal. or 8.4%.