Research paper
Müller MJ, Enderle J, Bosy-Westphal A. Changes in Energy Expenditure with Weight Gain and Weight Loss in Humans. Current Obesity Reports. 2016;5(4):413-423. doi:10.1007/s13679-016-0237-4. PMID: 27739007. PMCID: PMC5097076.
Why we cite it
Provides a comprehensive review of adaptive thermogenesis in humans, clarifying the magnitude, timing, and asymmetry of metabolic adaptation during weight change. Directly relevant to the project because its account of adaptive thermogenesis bears on why weight loss slows: the review describes AT as directed towards ”limitation of weight loss” and, clinically, as a ”metabolic vulnerability” of obese patients. It also quantifies the adaptation (100 to 500 kcal/day across studies; about 70 kcal/day of “true” AT after adjusting for FFM composition). (Corrected 2026-09-10 from ”it explains why weight loss plateaus are a predictable biological response, not a sign of failure”: plateau does not occur in the paper, and the reassurance was the library’s.)
DOI: 10.1007/s13679-016-0237-4 · PubMed 27739007 · Publisher