drtbear1967
Musclechemistry Board Certified Member
BODYFAT SETPOINT
Today we talk about the “Bodyfat set point theory”, and how -- based on genetic factors -- our brain may adjust our energy expenditure and hunger, depending on how far from the center we move the needle, to the left or to the right.
The research is not definitive on the matter, and some people believe that the set point doesn't exist - or rather - that it should be preferably called "Settling point" and that has to do more with environmental factors rather than physiological ones. Instead, another group of people suggests that the two (set and settling points) can coexist and shouldn't be mutually exclusive.
Have you ever noticed your body fighting back when your goal is to lose body fat? As you keep losing weight, you feel more tired, hungrier than usual and, before you know it, you're back to your starting body weight.
On the other hand, when you start bulking (and do so for a while) suddenly eating all the calories becomes more of a struggle, hunger decreases and.. you actually start losing weight.
What's going on?
When we lose fat, our appetite increases, and that is largely by the Hormone Leptin which is mainly produced by the fat cells. Simply put, more fat within the cells = more Leptin, which increased metabolic rate and decreases hunger.
On the other hand, less fat within the fat cells = less Leptin, which decreases metabolic rate and increases hunger.
Well, this is the idea of how the "set point theory" works: it's a physiological adaptation that starts taking place once we get outside of the "range" of what's considered the set point.
Based on genetic factors, we tend to maintain a certain bodyweight and body fat, and if we move away from it, then our appetite, behavior, energy expenditure tends to adjust accordingly.
Reference: https://bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/set-points-and-settling-points
Today we talk about the “Bodyfat set point theory”, and how -- based on genetic factors -- our brain may adjust our energy expenditure and hunger, depending on how far from the center we move the needle, to the left or to the right.
The research is not definitive on the matter, and some people believe that the set point doesn't exist - or rather - that it should be preferably called "Settling point" and that has to do more with environmental factors rather than physiological ones. Instead, another group of people suggests that the two (set and settling points) can coexist and shouldn't be mutually exclusive.
Have you ever noticed your body fighting back when your goal is to lose body fat? As you keep losing weight, you feel more tired, hungrier than usual and, before you know it, you're back to your starting body weight.
On the other hand, when you start bulking (and do so for a while) suddenly eating all the calories becomes more of a struggle, hunger decreases and.. you actually start losing weight.
What's going on?
When we lose fat, our appetite increases, and that is largely by the Hormone Leptin which is mainly produced by the fat cells. Simply put, more fat within the cells = more Leptin, which increased metabolic rate and decreases hunger.
On the other hand, less fat within the fat cells = less Leptin, which decreases metabolic rate and increases hunger.
Well, this is the idea of how the "set point theory" works: it's a physiological adaptation that starts taking place once we get outside of the "range" of what's considered the set point.
Based on genetic factors, we tend to maintain a certain bodyweight and body fat, and if we move away from it, then our appetite, behavior, energy expenditure tends to adjust accordingly.
Reference: https://bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/set-points-and-settling-points
