Research paper
Speakman JR, Levitsky DA, Allison DB, Bray MS, de Castro JM, Clegg DJ, Clapham JC, Dulloo AG, Gruer L, Haw S, Hebebrand J, Hetherington MM, Higgs S, Jebb SA, Loos RJF, Luckman S, Luke A, Mohammed-Ali V, O'Rahilly S, Pereira M, Perusse L, Robinson TN, Rolls B, Symonds ME, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Set points, settling points and some alternative models: theoretical options to understand how genes and environments combine to regulate body adiposity. Disease Models & Mechanisms. 2011;4(6):733-745. doi:10.1242/dmm.008698
Why we cite it
Provides the most comprehensive comparative analysis of theoretical models for body weight regulation. By showing that neither the set point model (active biological defense of a target weight) nor the settling point model (passive equilibration with environment) is adequate alone, and proposing the dual intervention point model as a synthesis, this paper gives the project a nuanced framework for explaining why weight loss is biologically difficult without reducing the explanation to simple determinism or simple environment.