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Re: The Famine effect - a myth or reality?

PostPosted: 17 Mar 2014, 01:21
by MaryAnn
I've had a read around the info on "refeeds" on the leangains site and another site he linked to: body recomposition. I'm still hoping for some proper studies, particularly in the context of maintenance or plateaus, but it seems the anecdotal evidence is more compelling than I appreciated. I suppose by biggest worry is that if you don't know your leptin level is low, a refeed might just make you gain. Also… I was reminded that some studies show that leptin doesn't decrease with IF, at least not long term (it goes down on fast days, but back up on non-fast days). It's a shame there isn't an easy blood test for leptin levels.

I would really love to see a study on adaptive thermogenesis (and all the other changes caused by weight loss) and how it varies depending on how the weight is lost. And a proper study on "refeeding".

Some links:
the leangains post @carorees referred to: http://www.leangains.com/search?q=leptin
the first of a 6 part series on leptin at the body recomposition site: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-lo ... art-1.html
a thread of caroline's from last year with useful info and additional links about the metabolic changes caused by weight loss: the-5-2-lab-f10/topic395.html
the NEJM paper I referred to in an earlier post, but didn't include a link for: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1105816

I was really struck by something in one of those links yesterday (I think it was one of the body recomposition posts): drug companies are only interested in developing a drug that causes weight loss. They aren't interested in developing something that helps with maintenance, like leptin. Given the number of people who successfully lose weight but can't maintain it, I think they're being a bit stupid. Though, perhaps the trouble with leptin, as the author points out, is that it would have to be injected, and most people wouldn't do that. I don't love needles (who does), but if there was something out there that would help preserve my hard work, I'd definitely consider it. (Another upside with leptin is that it is something we make naturally, so less worry about side effects, etc., of a synthetic drug.)

Re: The Famine effect - a myth or reality?

PostPosted: 17 Mar 2014, 19:34
by CandiceMarie
I was thinking about this today
Struggling on my usual monday fast tho not that hungry,just an occasional pang / twinge that passed quite quickly.
Today it was more my eyes were seeing things i quite fancied eating but no real drive to do so.
Those twinges or pangs we get on a normal fast day..They are sooo totally different to the awful gnawing nagging hunger which won't go away..returns very quickly after eating..makes you feel freezing cold and gives you a miserable " heart in boots" emotion
There HAS to be something in the famine reaction..SOMETHING is going on thats unlike just the usual fasting day..
These are massive " twinges that lead to binges and then to whinges" ....big-style!

Re: The Famine effect - a myth or reality?

PostPosted: 18 Mar 2014, 00:49
by Julieathome
The reason why the drug companies aren't interested in drugs to help with maintenance is that if people finally managed to lose weight AND keep it off, they would put themselves out of business.

Re: The Famine effect - a myth or reality?

PostPosted: 18 Mar 2014, 01:35
by MaryAnn
I don't know. There's a lot of overweight people in the world. I don't think there would be a shortage of customers!