Changes of the body weight, fat mass and aerobic capacity and energy intake, following the skipped meal in young women

ABSTRACT

Young girls often intend to use food restricted diets to loose their body weight and to be fit. This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of food restriction on the changes of body weight, body fatness, aerobic capacity and energy intake in young women in Tehran. In a Quasi-experimental study, 40 volunteers were selected from girl students. Their weight, height, body fatness [by measuring Triceps Skin fold [TSF] Thickness], aerobic capacity [VO2max] and energy intake were measured at the beginning of the study. The students were asked to skip one of their meals per day for a period of four weeks. At the end of 4 weeks, all variables were measured again and compared with the previous data. Data were analyzed using paired t test. No significant differences were seen in weight, BMI, TSF and VO2max [P > 0.05]. We also did not find any significant difference in energy intake following the skipped meal in young women [P > 0.05]. The results of this study demonstrate that the food restriction for four weeks in young women has no significant effect in body weight and fatness. It seems that there is a physiological adaptation in energy intake and expenditure