Juan has been obese for most of his life, maintaining a very high body weight that did not seem to fluctuate much over time. Juan changed his diet and dramatically increased his exercise level, and subsequently lost a lot of weight. Over the next few years, Juan maintained his new, lower, body weight. Which of the following theories best accounts for this type of example?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The settling-point theory proposes that body weight is not regulated by a fixed set point, but rather is influenced by a variety of individual and environmental factors that can shift the settling point up or down. Juan's example is consistent with the settling-point theory as his weight remained stable after he made long-term lifestyle changes in his diet and exercise habits. The other theories, such as the lipostatic theory, set-point theory, and glucostatic theory, propose that body weight is regulated by more fixed set points or regulated by specific biological mechanisms that maintain a certain weight range.

Juan Has Been Obese for Most of His Life, Maintaining