Impact of Energy Turnover on the Regulation of Energy and Macronutrient Balance

Abstract

Energy turnover, defined as the average daily total metabolic rate, can be normalized for basal metabolic rate in order to compare physical activity level between individuals, whereas normalization of energy turnover for energy intake (energy flux) allows investigation of its impact on regulation of energy partitioning independent of energy balance. Appetite sensations better correspond to energy requirements at a high compared with a low energy turnover. Adaptation of energy intake to habitual energy turnover may, however, contribute to the risk of weight gain associated with accelerated growth, pregnancy, detraining in athletes, or after weight loss in people with obesity. The dose–response relationship between energy turnover and energy intake as well as the metabolic effects of energy turnover varies with the habitual level of physical activity and the etiology of energy turnover (e.g., cold‐induced thermogenesis, growth, or lactation; aerobic vs. anaerobic exercise). Whether a high energy turnover due to physical activity or exercise may compensate for adverse effects of overfeeding or an unhealthy diet needs to be further investigated using the concept of energy flux. In summary, the beneficial effects of a high energy turnover on regulation of energy and macronutrient balance facilitate the prevention and treatment of obesity and associated metabolic risk.

Higher energy flux may improve short-term appetite control in adolescents with obesity: the NEXT study

“…Increasing energy expenditure through exercise may be more effective in improving short-term appetite control than energetic restriction alone, often considered the main target in the management of obesity. As recently reviewed by Bosy-Westphal et al (15) , unlike exercise, small increase in energy flux induced by short sleep duration or increased mental work can lead to an increase in energy intake and thus to a deregulation of the energy balance. Future studies comparing different levels of energy flux over a longer time frame are needed to better understand and characterise the appetitive responses to energy balance manipulations that may inform design of interventions that improve sustainable weight loss interventions and fight the childhood obesity pandemic.…”

“…deficit, maintenance or surplus of energy). Thus, a high-energy flux (HEF) is determined by a high level of EI where the level of energy expenditure is also high (15) . In healthy adults, Hägele et al showed that HEF was associated with lower subsequent ad libitum intake, an increase in Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentrations and a decrease in acylated ghrelin, insulin concentrations, hunger and desire to eat (14) .…”

Obesity Subtyping: The Etiology, Prevention, and Management of Acquired versus Inherited Obese Phenotypes

“…Although the etiology of acquired obesity is often contested [ 1 ], there is strong evidence dating from the mid-20th century that reductions in PA, high physical inactivity (PI), and excessive sedentary behavior (SB) are strong determinants of this phenotype in both human and non-human animals [ 1 , 12 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ]. To summarize briefly, first, PA is the major modifiable determinant of caloric consumption [ 27 , 28 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Second, when individuals reduce their PA, their consumption declines more slowly than their caloric expenditure [ 27 , 28 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”

“…To summarize briefly, first, PA is the major modifiable determinant of caloric consumption [ 27 , 28 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Second, when individuals reduce their PA, their consumption declines more slowly than their caloric expenditure [ 27 , 28 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. This leads to relative hyperphagia (overconsumption) and positive energy balance—with individuals consuming more calories than they expend.…”

“…There is a large body of observational and experimental research dating from the 1950s showing that although body mass and composition and concomitant basal energy expenditure are the major determinants of caloric consumption [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ], PA is the major modifiable determinant of consumption, expenditure, and storage [ 16 , 27 , 28 , 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ]. Thus, because PA plays an essential role in all aspects of metabolism, we previously coined the term ‘Metabolic Tipping-point’ to denote the amount of PA necessary to prevent overconsumption and weight gain [ 1 , 12 ].…”