title: Energy restriction results in a mass-adjusted decrease in energy expenditure in cats that is maintained after weight regain.
abstract: Dietary energy restriction (ER) is used to treat obesity in cats but it is often unsuccessful. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ER results in a sustained decrease in mass-adjusted energy expenditure (EE) that may oppose weight loss and promote weight regain. EE and body composition were measured in 10 adult neutered cats at 3 time points: baseline (obese cats), during weight loss (40% ER), and following weight regain. The cats started with a body weight (BW) of 6.1 +/- 0.30 kg, body condition score (BCS) of 7.6 +/- 0.14 (on a 9-point scale), and fat body mass (FM) of 38 +/- 1.0% of BW. After weight loss, BW was 5.0 +/- 0.19 kg, BCS was 5.5 +/- 0.07 kg, and FM was 31 +/- 1.6% (P < 0.01). After weight regain, BW was 6.2 +/- 0.30 kg, BCS was 7.7 +/- 0.16, and FM was 42 +/- 1.8% (P < 0.01). Total EE decreased from 1258 +/- 33.7 kJ/d to 1025 +/- 39.6 kJ/d during weight loss (P < 0.001). After weight regain, EE was still lower than baseline (1103 +/- 41.5 kJ/d, P < 0.001). Energy intake (EI) at baseline (1337 +/- 50.6 kJ/d) was higher than EI after weight loss and regain (1217 +/- 61.2 kJ/d), resulting in no differences in energy balance (78 +/- 30.4 and 104 +/- 35.4 kJ/d, respectively, P = 0.581). These results support the hypothesis that ER results in a mass-adjusted decrease in EE in cats that is maintained after weight regain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8741, USA.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Villaverde
authors.forename: Jon J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Danny K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Asami
authors.forename: Seung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fascetti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002415:Cats; D004032:Diet; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000652:urine; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen