This short review summarizes 4 main reasons for which low-fat diets are preferred to limit excessive weight gain: (1) For metabolic reasons, fat intake does not measurably stimulate fat oxidation; dietary fat above energy requirements is stored in adipose tissue. (2) Diets that are high in fat or are energy dense have a weak satiating effect and promote a passive overconsumption of energy relative to need. (3) A recent meta-analysis on the effect on body weight loss of low-fat diets followed for >2 months showed a significant weight difference of 3.3 kg between the diet and the control groups. A low-fat diet may also be beneficial in helping maintain weight loss. (4) Low-fat diets are also advocated to lower the risk of coronary heart disease and certain forms of cancer. There is no evidence showing that the small physiologic reduction of plasma highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol levels with a low-fat diet is detrimental.

Journal Article Glucose disposal and lipid metabolism in man: role of thyroid hormones Get access M J Müller, M J Müller Medizinische Hochschule HannoverHôpital Cantonal, GenèveInstitut de Physiology and Nestle Research Department, Lausanne Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar A G Burger, A G Burger Medizinische Hochschule HannoverHôpital Cantonal, GenèveInstitut de Physiology and Nestle Research Department, Lausanne Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar E Jequier, E Jequier Medizinische Hochschule HannoverHôpital Cantonal, GenèveInstitut de Physiology and Nestle Research Department, Lausanne Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar K J Acheson K J Acheson Medizinische Hochschule HannoverHôpital Cantonal, GenèveInstitut de Physiology and Nestle Research Department, Lausanne Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Acta Endocrinologica (Norway), Volume 117, Issue 4_Supplement, Apr 1988, Pages S130–S131, https://doi.org/10.1530/acta.0.117S130-a Published: 01 April 1988

A series of four trials was carried out to investigate the effects of caffeine and coffee on the metabolic rate and substrate utilization in normal weight and obese individuals. In the first trial 8 mg/kg caffeine was compared with a placebo in normal weight subjects. Metabolic rate increased significantly during the 3 hr after caffeine ingestion. While plasma glucose, insulin, and carbohydrate oxidation did not change significantly, plasma free fatty acid levels rose from 432 ± 31 to 848 ± 135 µEq/liter and were accompanied by significant increases in fat oxidation during the last hour of the test. In the second and third trials the effects of coffee providing 4 mg/kg caffeine were studied in control and obese subjects. Metabolic rate increased significantly in both groups; however, significant increases in fat oxidation were only observed in the control group. Plasma free fatty acids did not change in the obese. In the fourth trial, coffee was taken with a 3080 kJ meal. The thermic effect of the meal was significantly greater after coffee than after decaffeinated coffee and again fat oxidation was significantly greater after coffee. In conclusion caffeine/coffee stimulates the metabolic rate in both control and obese individuals; however, this is accompanied by greater oxidation of fat in normal weight subjects.