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Starving to slim

Objectives

By the end of this exercise you should be able to:

Define body mass index (BMI) and the desirable range

Calculate the energy yield of adipose tissue and maximum possible rate of sustained weight loss with energy deficit

Explain why there is an initial rate of weight loss that is greater than calculated

Describe the processes that contribute to resting energy expenditure (the resting metabolic rate)

Describe the main changes in plasma metabolic fuels from the fed state into fasting and starvation

Explain how the blood concentration of glucose is maintained in fasting and starvation, and the importance of maintaining an adequate supply of glucose

Explain the importance of ketone body synthesis and describe in outline the role of ketone bodies

Explain how changes in the urinary excretion of urea in fasting and starvation provide information about tissue protein breakdown

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