Research paper
Riou MÈ, Jomphe-Tremblay S, Lamothe G, Stacey D, Szczotka A, Doucet É. Predictors of Energy Compensation during Exercise Interventions: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2015;7(5):3677-3704. doi:10.3390/nu7053677
Why we cite it
First systematic review to quantify energy compensation following exercise interventions using body composition changes (not just weight) and to identify the interaction between initial fat mass, age, and intervention duration as the primary predictors. Provides the project’s key statistic that mean energy compensation is only 18% — exercise “works” on average — but with enormous individual variation (SD 93%) and increasing compensation over time, supporting realistic expectations about exercise-based weight management.