The effects of short-term overfeeding on ad libitum energy intake in thin and reduced-obese women and men

Abstract

Individuals who appear to be resistant to weight gain in an obesigenic environment may sense positive energy balance more appropriately, influencing subsequent intake. We studied 28 thin (15 women, 13 men) and 15 reduced-obese (RO: 10 women, 5 men) individuals twice in a randomized crossover manner. Each study period included 3 days of run-in eucaloric diet, 3 days of controlled feeding (eucaloric or 30% overfeeding), and 3 days of ad libitum buffet style feeding. Energy intake (EI) was measured during ad libitum feeding. Measures of appetite were obtained using visual analog scales before and after each meal. Overall, ad libitum EI did not differ following eucaloric or hypercaloric feeding even in the thin cohort. When compared to their measured energy needs, subjects overconsumed in the ad libitum buffet style setting even after overfeeding. This effect was driven by men (both thin and RO) who overate following both eucaloric and overfeeding diets. Ad libitum EI was more “appropriate” in women, and thin women tended to reduce their EI after overfeeding. While overfeeding resulted in significant reductions in hunger and increases in satiety in the thin but not the RO individuals, these responses did not predict subsequent EI. In summary, buffet style ad libitum feeding promotes excess EI in men even after overfeeding and regardless of their propensity to remain thin. While women appear not to overconsume in a buffet style setting, they do not undereat in response to overfeeding despite significant changes in appetite.