Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Aug;74(8):1210-1220.
doi: 10.1038/s41430-020-0593-8. Epub 2020 Mar 6.

Changes in body weight, adherence, and appetite during 2 years of calorie restriction: the CALERIE 2 randomized clinical trial

James L Dorling  1 , Sai Krupa Das  2 , Susan B Racette  3 , John W Apolzan  1 , Dachuan Zhang  1 , Carl F Pieper  4 , Corby K Martin  5 ; CALERIE Study Group
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Changes in body weight, adherence, and appetite during 2 years of calorie restriction: the CALERIE 2 randomized clinical trial

James L Dorling et al. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Background/objectives: The Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy Phase 2 (CALERIE) study showed that individuals who are nonobese were able to undergo significant calorie restriction (CR), yet the time course changes in adherence, weight, and appetite are unknown. This analysis aimed to investigate the time course changes in adherence, body weight, and appetite during the CALERIE study.

Subjects/methods: Overall, 143 participants (body mass index: 21.9-28.0 kg/m2) were randomized to a CR group that aimed to achieve 25% CR for 2 years. Throughout the intervention, body weight was measured, and appetite was assessed through visual analogue scales. Algorithms were utilized with body weight measurements to calculate adherence percentile score. Participants targeted an adherence percentile score of 50, though being between 80 (lowest acceptable adherence) and 10 (highest acceptable adherence) was adequate. Polynomial regression analyses were used to assess time course changes.

Results: Polynomials indicated that adherence percentile score increased above 50 after approximately week 20, although adherence remained acceptable (adherence percentile score less than 80) (R2 = 0.89; P < 0.001). Weight loss occurred until approximately week 60 and then plateaued (R2 ≥ 0.92; P < 0.001). Hunger and thirst increased (R2 ≥ 0.30; P < 0.001), but the total increase in scale scores were <10 mm throughout the intervention.

Conclusions: In individuals who are nonobese, adherence to 25% CR declines after 20 weeks, but 2 years of CR that stimulates a meaningful reduction in weight, promotes aging-related benefits and negligibly affects appetite is viable.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Adherence percentile score (A), weight loss (B) and percentage weight loss along with the accepted upper (80th percentile) and lower (10th percentile) boundaries of percent weight loss (C) and in the calorie restriction group during CALERIE. Values are mean ± SEM. Bold line indicates mean values, dashed lines indicate 10th and 80th percentile.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Modelled regression curves for adherence percentile score (A), weight loss (B) and percentage weight loss (C) during CALERIE. Bold line indicates best fit, shaded area indicates 95% confidence limits.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Hunger (A), fullness (B), satisfaction (C), prospective food consumption (D), satisfaction with type of food (E), satisfaction with amount of food (F) and thirst (G) in the calorie restriction group during CALERIE. Values are mean ± SEM.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Modelled regression curves for hunger (A), fullness (B), satisfaction (C), prospective food consumption (D), satisfaction with type of food (E), satisfaction with amount of food (F) and thirst (G) during CALERIE. Bold line indicates best fit, shaded area indicates 95% confidence limits.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Redman LM, Ravussin E. Caloric restriction in humans: Impact on physiological, psychological, and behavioral outcomes. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011;14:275–87. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ravussin E, Redman LM, Rochon J, Das SK, Fontana L, Kraus WE, et al. A 2-year randomized controlled trial of human caloric restriction: Feasibility and effects on predictors of health span and longevity. Journals Gerontol - Ser A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2015;70(9):1097–104. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Doucet E, St-Pierre S, Alméras N, Tremblay A. Relation between appetite ratings before and after a standard meal and estimates of daily energy intake in obese and reduced obese individuals. Appetite. 2003;40:137–43. - PubMed
    1. McGuire MT, Wing RR, Klem ML, Lang W, Hill JO. What predicts weight regain in a group of successful weight losers? J Consult Clin Psychol. 1999;67:177–85. - PubMed
    1. Sumithran P, Prendergast LA, Delbridge E, Purcell K, Shulkes A, Kriketos A, et al. Long-term persistence of hormonal adaptations to weight loss. N Engl J Med. 2011;365(17):1597–604. - PubMed

Publication types