The Claim
In obese women, a 15-day very low-calorie diet at 1337 kJ/day is associated with a 12.5% reduction in resting metabolic rate (from 1793 to 1569 kcal/day) and a decrease in serum triiodothyronine (T3) from 1.1 to 1.0 μg/L.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In obese women, consuming a very low-calorie diet for 15 days results in a measurable drop in resting metabolic rate and a reduction in serum triiodothyronine levels.
See the scientific wording
In obese women, a 15-day very low-calorie diet (1337 kJ/day) is associated with a 12.5% reduction in resting metabolic rate (from 1793 to 1569 kcal/day) and a decrease in serum triiodothyronine (T3) from 1.1 to 1.0 μg/L, suggesting a link between acute caloric restriction and downregulation of metabolic and thyroid hormone activity.
When food intake drops sharply, the body reduces the conversion of a thyroid hormone into its active form, which slows down energy use in cells, causing the body to burn fewer calories at rest.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Resting Metabolic Rate, Body Composition and Thyroid Hormones
When obese women ate very few calories for two weeks, their bodies burned fewer calories at rest and made less of a thyroid hormone that helps control metabolism. This helps explain why losing weight gets harder over time.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.