Stepwise Weight Reduction in Obese Young Men: Nitrogen, Calcium and Phosphorus Balances

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Abstract
The effect of stepwise weight reduction on the nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus metabolism of 8 obese young men was studied by means of the balance technic. Seven-day balances were performed during pre-reduction weight maintenance and during the last week of each reduction period. The net weight losses ranged from 15.5 to 35.5 lbs.; the mean being 24.8; the median, 23.8 lbs. During the pre-reduction maintenance period all subjects were in equilibrium or retaining all three nutrients. With caloric restriction both nitrogen and phosphorus retention was decreased in most of the subjects. Fewer subjects showed poorer calcium retentions. Thus there was no evidence that for men a stepwise reducing regimen eliminates the physiological shortcomings of an uninterrupted reduction regimen. The most obese of the subjects, who also achieved the greatest weight losses, showed unique metabolic responses during all of the reduction balance periods. Consistently he was retaining large quantities of nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus. From a psychological standpoint, 6 of the 8 men felt they would prefer stepwise reduction to an uninterrupted regimen. The two men who found caloric restriction most difficult felt they would have preferred uninterrupted weight reduction.

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