Metabolism or appetite: questions of energy balance with particular reference to obesity

Abstract

This paper reveiws recent work at the Dunn Nutrition Unit on obses subjects using calorimetry combined with measurements of total energy expenditure by the doubly‐labelled water technique. This has shown no evidence of a metabolic defect in obses subjects leading to a reduced energy requirement. Energy expenditure per kilogram body weight was similar for lean and obses women. Total energy expenditure was higher in the obese consequent upon the greater body size. Studies from other centres that do show evidence for a metabolic defect obsesity lies in control of appetite and/or the control of fat (as opposed to energy) balance.