Weight Fluctuations
In studies which have investigated the normal changes in body weight in healthy, free-living individuals, a fluctuation of + 1 kg in consecutive days is common, and fluctuations of + 0.5 kg are very common.
In order to understand the reasons for these variations in body weight during short periods it is worth considering the various components of the human body which can change in size and thus result in changes in weight.
|
Component of Human Body |
Tissue Type |
Daily Changes in Weight |
Rate of Change in |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Structural |
Bones, ligaments, cartilages etc |
None |
No change |
|
Major energy reserves |
Muscle, fat |
None |
Changes occur slowly over several weeks of dieting |
|
Short term energy reserves |
Glycogen (stored in combination with water in the liver) |
Minimal fluctuations of 0.5 - 1.0 kg are common |
Is responsible for initial rapid loss of weight in first few days of dieting |
Although loss of mineral from the bones is a common side effect of starvation, the effects of this on body weight are small.
The body's glycogen stores are specifically designed to provide energy in the short term, i.e. between meals, and in normal circumstances they only last for a few hours.
Published: 09/10/2020 10:30