title: The Effects of Intensive Weight Reduction on Body Composition and Serum Hormones in Female Fitness Competitors.
abstract: Worries about the potential negative consequences of popular fat loss regimens for aesthetic purposes in normal weight females have been surfacing in the media. However, longitudinal studies investigating these kinds of diets are lacking. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of a 4-month fat-loss diet in normal weight females competing in fitness-sport. In total 50 participants finished the study with 27 females (27.2 ± 4.1 years) dieting for a competition and 23 (27.7 ± 3.7 years) acting as weight-stable controls. The energy deficit of the diet group was achieved by reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing aerobic exercise while maintaining a high level of protein intake and resistance training in addition to moderate fat intake. The diet led to a ~12% decrease in body weight (P< 0.001) and a ~35-50% decrease in fat mass (DXA, bioimpedance, skinfolds,P< 0.001) whereas the control group maintained their body and fat mass (diet × group interactionP< 0.001). A small decrease in lean mass (bioimpedance and skinfolds) and in vastus lateralis muscle cross-sectional area (ultrasound) were observed in diet (P< 0.05), whereas other results were unaltered (DXA: lean mass, ultrasound: triceps brachii thickness). The hormonal system was altered during the diet with decreased serum concentrations of leptin, triiodothyronine (T3), testosterone (P< 0.001), and estradiol (P< 0.01) coinciding with an increased incidence of menstrual irregularities (P< 0.05). Body weight and all hormones except T3 and testosterone returned to baseline during a 3-4 month recovery period including increased energy intake and decreased levels aerobic exercise. This study shows for the first time that most of the hormonal changes after a 35-50% decrease in body fat in previously normal-weight females can recover within 3-4 months of increased energy intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of JyväskyläJyväskylä, Finland; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of HelsinkiHelsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hulmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Ville
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Isola
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suonpää
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Neea J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Järvinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kokkonen
authors.affiliation: Genomics and Biomarkers Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinki, Finland; Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland and Diabetes and Obesity Research Program, University of HelsinkiHelsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wennerström
authors.affiliation: Central Hospital of Central Finland Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nyman
authors.affiliation: Genomics and Biomarkers Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and WelfareHelsinki, Finland; Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland and Diabetes and Obesity Research Program, University of HelsinkiHelsinki, Finland; The Estonian Genome Center of the University of TartuTartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perola
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ahtiainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology of Physical Activity, Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä Jyväskylä, Finland.
authors.forename: Keijo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Häkkinen
keywords: body composition; exercise; fat loss; fitness; nutrition; sex hormones; thyroid hormones