The Summermatter cycle is a physiological concept describing the complex relationship between physical activity/inactivity and energy expenditure/conservation.[1]

The concept explains why dieting fails in most cases and results in a Yo-yo effect.[2][3] A central element of the Summermatter cycle is that reductions in energy intake, occurring with dieting or starvation, initially successfully induce weight and adipose tissue loss.[1] At the same time, the reduced food availability prompts ambulatory activity, which further accelerates body and fat mass loss and depletes ATP, glycogen and intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) in skeletal muscle.[1] The scarcity of energy ultimately suppresses thermogenesis in skeletal muscle to conserve energy.[4]

As soon as energy becomes available again, this originally adaptive, thrifty program supports the replenishment of energy stores and weight regain.[5] Fat deposition is the most efficient way for the body to store energy. This phenomenon of energy store replenishment is driven by a hyperinsulinemic state and is referred to as preferential catch-up fat.[6][7] Satiety signals during the period of food availability automatically lead to rest, which further supports adipose tissue regain and the restoration of glycogen and IMCL pools in muscle. As a result, the majority of people rapidly regain body weight. Exercise increases energy expenditure and can counteract the suppression of thermogenesis in skeletal muscle thereby preventing weight regain. In addition, regular exercise promotes the turnover of ATP, glycogen and IMCLs.[1]

The hypothesis was put forward in 2012[1] and Benton, et al. named the cycle in 2017 after its inventor, the Swiss biochemist, nutritionist and exercise physiologist Dr. Serge Summermatter.[8]

The concept of the Summermatter cycle finds broad application in body weight management to time exercise interventions and avoid catch-up fat (yo-yo effect). Moreover, the concept is used by elite athletes to optimally coordinate their exercise and energy intake.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Summermatter, S.; Handschin, C. (November 2012). "PGC-1α and exercise in the control of body weight". International Journal of Obesity. 36 (11): 1428–1435. doi:10.1038/ijo.2012.12. ISSN 1476-5497. PMID 22290535.
  2. ^ Bacon, Linda; Aphramor, Lucy (2011-01-24). "Weight science: evaluating the evidence for a paradigm shift". Nutrition Journal. 10: 9. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-10-9. ISSN 1475-2891. PMC 3041737. PMID 21261939.
  3. ^ Ayyad, C.; Andersen, T. (October 2000). "Long-term efficacy of dietary treatment of obesity: a systematic review of studies published between 1931 and 1999". Obesity Reviews. 1 (2): 113–119. doi:10.1046/j.1467-789x.2000.00019.x. ISSN 1467-7881. PMID 12119984. S2CID 21469864.
  4. ^ Weyer, Christian; Walford, Roy L; Harper, Inge T; Milner, Mike; MacCallum, Taber; Tataranni, P Antonio; Ravussin, Eric (2000-10-01). "Energy metabolism after 2 y of energy restriction: the Biosphere 2 experiment". The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 72 (4): 946–953. doi:10.1093/ajcn/72.4.946. ISSN 0002-9165. PMID 11010936.
  5. ^ Summermatter, Serge; Marcelino, Helena; Arsenijevic, Denis; Buchala, Antony; Aprikian, Olivier; Assimacopoulos-Jeannet, Françoise; Seydoux, Josiane; Montani, Jean-Pierre; Solinas, Giovanni; Dulloo, Abdul G. (October 2009). "Adipose tissue plasticity during catch-up fat driven by thrifty metabolism: relevance for muscle-adipose glucose redistribution during catch-up growth". Diabetes. 58 (10): 2228–2237. doi:10.2337/db08-1793. ISSN 1939-327X. PMC 2750217. PMID 19602538.
  6. ^ Dulloo, A G; Jacquet, J; Seydoux, J; Montani, J-P (December 2006). "The thrifty 'catch-up fat' phenotype: its impact on insulin sensitivity during growth trajectories to obesity and metabolic syndrome". International Journal of Obesity. 30 (S4): S23–S35. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803516. ISSN 0307-0565. PMID 17133232.
  7. ^ Dulloo, A. G. (2006). "Regulation of fat storage via suppressed thermogenesis: a thrifty phenotype that predisposes individuals with catch-up growth to insulin resistance and obesity" (PDF). Hormone Research. 65 Suppl 3 (3): 90–97. doi:10.1159/000091512. ISSN 0301-0163. PMID 16612120. S2CID 16719346.
  8. ^ Benton, David; Young, Hayley A. (September 2017). "Reducing Calorie Intake May Not Help You Lose Body Weight". Perspectives on Psychological Science. 12 (5): 703–714. doi:10.1177/1745691617690878. ISSN 1745-6916. PMC 5639963. PMID 28657838.
  9. ^ Correia, J. M.; Santos, I.; Pezarat-Correia, P.; Minderico, C.; Mendonca, G. V. (2020-05-12). "Effects of Intermittent Fasting on Specific Exercise Performance Outcomes: A Systematic Review Including Meta-Analysis". Nutrients. 12 (5): 1390. doi:10.3390/nu12051390. PMC 7284994. PMID 32408718.
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