title: Weight set-point theory predicts HDL-cholesterol levels in previously obese long-distance runners.
abstract: I have proposed that long-distance runners have the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol metabolism of men who are below their sedentary weight set-point. This hypothesis was tested by correlating HDL-cholesterol levels with other variables in 33 long-distance runners who ran at least 24 km/week. The most significant determinant of the runners' plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations was the difference between the runners' current weight and their self-reported greatest weight (r = -0.50, P less than 0.0001). HDL-cholesterol levels were highest in previously-obese runners who had lost the most weight, i.e. highest in those who were the furthest below their presumed weight set-point. Plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations were unrelated to training level, running performance, current weight and upper-body obesity. Although these results do not prove homeostatic regulation of weight at a set point, they do suggest that deviations from sedentary weight affect metabolism. Moreover, with respect to male runners elevating their HDL-cholesterol concentrations, these results suggest, 'tis better to have been fat and lost than to have never been fat at all.
authors.affiliation: Donner Laboratory, Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720.
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D012420:Running
chemical_list: D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase