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Table 1 Selection of human overfeeding experiments

From: Energy expenditure during overfeeding

Reference

Subjects

Overfeeding period/setting

Dietary intake*

EE measurements

Limited activity

Mean weight gain

Changes in EE**

Costs of weight gain (MJ/kg)***

Adaptive thermogenesis?

Bouchard et al./Tremblay et al. [22, 30]

24 males (12 twin pairs) normal weight

84 d metabolic unit

+ 4.2 MJ/d 15% P, 35% F, 50% CHO

RMR, DIT

yes

8.1 ± 2.4 kg

ΔRMR 0.69 ± 0.60 MJ/d

44

no

Dallosso and James [41]

8 males normal weight

7 d metabolic unit

150% base 50% F

TEE, SMR, BMR

low or high exercise

1.2 ± 0.5 kg

ΔTEE 5.6% (low), 6.4% (high)

39

yes

Diaz et al. [4]

6 males normal/overweight

42 d metabolic unit

150% base 12% P, 42% F, 46% CHO

ADMR, TEE, BMR

no

7.6 ± 1.6 kg

ΔBMR 0.9 ± 0.4, ΔDIT + AEE 0.9 ± 2.1 MJ/d

35

no

Forbes et al. [23]

2 males, 13 females normal weight

17–21 d metabolic unit

total 79–159 MJ; 15% P, 45–50% F, 45–50% CHO

BMR

no

4.4 ± 0.6 kg

ΔBMR 0.49 ± 0.46 MJ/d

28

no

Glick et al. [40]

8 females normal/overweight

5 d metabolic unit

+ 9.5 MJ/d 13% P, 38% F, 50% CHO

O2-consump. during rest and exercise

yes

1.8 ± 0.3 kg

no

26

no

Horton et al. [14]

16 males normal weight/obese

14 d

+ 50% base entirely F or CHO

TEE

no

2.7 kg

ΔTEE 0.9 (CHO) MJ/d

CHO 90 F 100

no

Jebb et al. [24]

3 males normal weight

12 d respiration chamber

133% base 15% P, 35% F, 50% CHO

TEE, BMR

yes

2.9 kg

ΔBMR 0.42 MJ/d ΔTEE 0.75 MJ/d

 

no

Joosen et al. [19]

14 females normal weight

14 d outpatients

150% base 7% P, 40% F, 53% CHO

ADMR, BMR, PA

no

1.5 ± 0.9 kg

ΔBMR 0.38 ± 0.47 MJ/d

54

no

Lammert et al. [20]

20 males normal weight

21 d metabolic unit

+ 5 MJ/d high F or high CHO

SMR

pairs according to habitual PA

1.5 kg

no

CHO 87 F 64

no

Levine et al. [25]

12 males, 4 females normal weight

56 d outpatients

+ 4.2 MJ/d 20% P, 40% F, 40% CHO

ADMR, BMR, DIT, NEAT, PA

volitional exercise constant and low

4.7 ± 1.8 kg

ΔBMR 0.33 ± 0.53 ΔDIT 0.58 ± 0.35, ΔNEAT 1.38 ± 1.08 MJ/d

50

yes

Norgan and Durnin [36]

6 males normal weight

42 d metabolic unit

+ 6.2 MJ/d 12% P, 33% F, 38% CHO, 7% alcohol

resting and mobile activities

sedentary (leisure) activities

6.0 ± 1.8 kg

no

43

no

Pasquet et al. [26]

9 males normal weight

61–65 d 'Guru Walla'

total 955 ± 252 MJ; 15% P, 15% F, 70% CHO

ADMR, RMR, ppRMR, PA

no

17 ± 4 kg

ΔRMR 44 ± 10, ΔppRMR 26 ± 12, ΔPA -40 ± 21%

56

yes

Ravussin et al. [27]

5 males normal weight

9 d outpatients

160% base 15% P, 39% F, 46% CHO

TEE, BMR, DIT, PA

-

3.2 ± 0.3 kg

ΔSMR 1.05, ΔBMR 0.62, ΔDIT 0.58 MJ/d

23

no

Roberts et al. [28]

7 males normal weight

21 d outpatients

+ 4.2 MJ/d 10% P, 40% F, 50% CHO, 0.2% alcohol

ADMR, RMR, DIT, PA

no

2.5 ± 3 kg

ΔRMR 0.63 ± 0.20 MJ/d

36

no

Webb and Annis [21]

6 males, 6 females normal/overweight

30 d outpatients

+ 4.2 MJ/d high P+F, high CHO or average

TEE

yes

2.7 kg (average, CHO) 1.8 kg (P+F)

ΔTEE 7.4%

P+F 72 CHO 46 average 47

yes

Zed and James [29]

16 females normal weight/obese

6 d metabolic unit

+ 4.3 MJ/d entirely F

TEE, SMR, BMR, DIT

-

1 kg

ΔBMR 9.4% (lean)

78 (normal weight only)

yes

  1. ADMR = average daily metabolic rate, BMR = basal metabolic rate, DIT = dietary-induced thermogenesis, CHO = carbohydrate, F = fat, P = protein, NEAT = nonexercise activity thermogenesis (ADMR-BMR-DIT), PA = physical activity, ppRMR = prostprandial resting metabolic rate (RMR+DIT), RMR = resting metabolic rate, SMR = sleeping metabolic rate, TEE = total energy expenditure.
  2. * % macronutrient = energy percentage.
  3. ** statistically significant changes only.
  4. *** calculated as mean excess energy intake divided by mean body weight gain (note: see discussion)