Weight loss in postmenopausal obesity: no adverse alterations in body composition and protein metabolism

• Published in: American journal of physiology: endocrinology and metabolism 2000-07, Vol.279 (1), p.E124-E131
• Main Authors: Gallagher, Dympna, Kovera, Albert J, Clay-Williams, Gaynelle, Agin, Denise, Leone, Patricia, Albu, Jeanine, Matthews, Dwight E, Heymsfield, Steven B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - pathology; Aged; Body Composition; Body Weight; Diet, Reducing; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Kinetics; Leucine - metabolism; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Obesity - diet therapy; Obesity - pathology; Organ Size; Postmenopause; Prospective Studies; Reference Values; Time Factors; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 0193-1849; 1522-1555
• DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.2000.279.1.e124

1  Department of Medicine, Obesity Research Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University, New York, New York 10025; and 2  Departments of Medicine and Chemistry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405 We sought to determine if decrements in the mass of fat-free body mass (FFM) and other lean tissue compartments, and related changes in protein metabolism, are appropriate for weight loss in obese older women. Subjects were 14 healthy weight-stable obese (BMI 30 kg/m 2 ) postmenopausal women >55 yr who participated in a 16-wk, 1,200   kcal/day nutritionally complete diet. Measures at baseline and 16 wk included FFM and appendicular lean soft tissue (LST) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; body cell mass (BCM) by 40 K whole body counting; total body water (TBW) by tritium dilution; skeletal muscle (SM) by whole body MRI; and fasting whole body protein metabolism through L -[1- 13 C]leucine kinetics. Mean weight loss (±SD) was 9.6 ± 3.0 kg ( P