Resistant starch and exercise independently attenuate weight regain on a high fat diet in a rat model of obesity
2011

Resistant Starch and Exercise Help Prevent Weight Regain in Obese Rats

Sample size: 108 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Janine A. Higgins, Matthew R. Jackman, Ian L. Brown, Ginger C. Johnson, Amy Steig, Holly R. Wyatt, James O. Hill, Paul S. MacLean

Primary Institution: Center for Human Nutrition, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver

Hypothesis

Dietary resistant starch (RS) and exercise will independently and synergistically decrease the rate of weight regain in a rat model of obesity.

Conclusion

Both resistant starch and exercise independently help reduce weight regain after weight loss in obese rats.

Supporting Evidence

  • Rats that consumed resistant starch regained less weight compared to those that did not.
  • Exercise reduced the rate of weight regain in the initial days of relapse.
  • Combining resistant starch with exercise led to better maintenance of lean mass during weight regain.
  • Exercise cessation resulted in increased weight gain and fat accumulation.
  • Resistant starch lowered insulin levels during the early stages of weight regain.

Takeaway

Feeding rats resistant starch and making them exercise helps them keep off weight after they lose it, even when they eat a lot of fat.

Methodology

Obesity-prone rats were weight reduced and then allowed to relapse on a high fat diet with varying levels of resistant starch, with some groups exercising.

Potential Biases

Potential bias in the selection of rats based on their predisposition to obesity.

Limitations

The study was conducted on rats, which may not fully represent human weight regain dynamics.

Participant Demographics

Male Wistar rats, aged 10 weeks at the start of the study.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1743-7075-8-49

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