Introduction:
Previous research demonstrates that weight loss results in long lasting changes in gut hormones leading to increased hunger and decreased satiety. The aim of this study was to determine at what degree of weight loss physiological adaptations occur and if the magnitude of gut hormone changes are proportional to the degree of weight loss.
Methods:
Subjects were placed on a VLED program to achieve a 15% weight loss. Gut hormone levels were measured during a mixed meal test (at 0, 30, 60, and 240 minutes) at baseline, 5%±1%, 10%±2% and 15%±2.5% weight loss. Hormones measured were total ghrelin (pg/mL), leptin (ng/mL), amylin (pg/mL), GLP1 (pg/mL) and GIP (pg/mL).
Results:
Of 97 subjects who began the study, data presented here include only the 50 subjects who completed the study. At the 5% weight loss level 4 out of 5 fasting hormones measured showed significant change (data presented as mean (SE), p-value): leptin -7.91 (0.77), p< 0.0001; amylin -24.84 (2.97), p<0.0001; GLP1 -22 (7.18), 0.003; and GIP +44.72 (15.86), 0.006. There was a non-significant decrease in fasting ghrelin -28.69 (17.57), 0.105. There was no correlation between degree of weight loss and the magnitude of hormone changes.
Conclusion:
The fact that hormone changes occur at 5% weight loss and that they appear not to change any further by 15% weight loss, suggests that marked weight loss is not more difficult to maintain than modest loss.