FRI005 Appetite Response To Short-term Energy Restriction In Young Healthy Women

Abstract Disclosure: G.E. Choi: None. C. Okigbo: None. J. Tessa Tonleu: None. S. Shekhar: None. H.F. Leka: None. A.E. Kim: None. B. Purse: None. K.R. Hisch: None. A.E. Smith-Ryan: None. J.E. Hall: None. Short-term caloric restriction, also referred to as energy restriction (ER), is commonly used by women across the weight spectrum to address their weight or health. Chronic ER is associated with increased appetite, but the relationship is poorly characterized in short-term ER or in the absence of obesity. We investigated the impact of controlled short-term ER on appetite and relevant hormone mediators in young women. In the early follicular phase of two menstrual cycles, 19 healthy non-obese women aged 23.36 ± 2.08 years (mean ± SD) with a BMI of 23.15 ± 2.34 kg/m2 (mean ± sem) underwent two five-day diet and exercise interventions: neutral energy availability (NEA) = 45 kcal/kg lean body mass (LBM)/day and deficient energy availability (DEA) = 20 kcal/kg LBM/day. On day 5 of both interventions, a visual analog scale (VAS) appetite questionnaire, body weight, fasting leptin and orexin-A were measured. We used paired t-tests for comparisons of changes from NEA to DEA. Principal-component factor analysis divided VAS items into appetite, satiety, and hunger (Cronbach alphas >0.80). We utilized linear regression models to determine how changes (Δ) in body weight, leptin, and orexin-A affect appetite, satiety, hunger, and cravings. From NEA to DEA, appetite and hunger increased (55% vs 76%; p<0.001 and 52% vs 71%; p<0.001, respectively), while satiety and cravings decreased (42% vs 19%; p <0.01 and 49% to 38%; p<0.01, respectively). DEA resulted in a weight loss of 1.0±0.22 kg (p<0.001), a decrease in leptin of 3.13±0.95 ng/ml, p=0.002), and increased orexin-A (0.06±0.02 ng/ml, p=0.018). Δ body weight was positively associated with Δ leptin (p=0.001) but not Δ orexin-A. When adjusting for leptin and orexin-A, increased appetite was associated with weight loss (p=0.011). Δ satiety was independently correlated with Δ body weight (p=0.002) and Δ leptin (p=0.033). Δ hunger was positively correlated with Δ body weight (p=0.043), independent of Δ orexin-A). Δ leptin, orexin-A, or body weight did not correlate with Δ craving. Thus, even in non-obese women, short-term ER results in a profound effect on homeostatic mechanisms designed to maintain weight; increased appetite and decreased satiety are mediated by even a minor degree of weight loss, both independently and through decreased leptin. It is likely that changes in ghrelin also contribute to these adaptations to ER, however it was not measured in this study for technical reasons. Interestingly, the effect of short-term ER on specific food cravings is overwhelmed by the overall increase in appetite. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023