The Claim

A 15-day very low-calorie diet in obese women is associated with a reduction in serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels, and this reduction is proposed as a contributor to the decline in resting metabolic rate.

Source: Resting Metabolic Rate, Body Composition and Thyroid Hormones

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
31score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

How it works
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In obese women, a 15-day very low-calorie diet leads to lower levels of serum triiodothyronine (T3) and a lower resting metabolic rate.

See the scientific wording

A 15-day very low-calorie diet in obese women is associated with a reduction in serum triiodothyronine (T3) levels, which the authors propose as a potential contributor to the observed decline in resting metabolic rate.

Why this might work

When calorie intake drops sharply, the body reduces the conversion of one thyroid hormone into its more active form, which slows down energy use in cells, causing the body to burn fewer calories at rest.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Resting Metabolic Rate, Body Composition and Thyroid Hormones

    When obese women ate very few calories for two weeks, their body made less of a thyroid hormone called T3, and their bodies burned fewer calories at rest. The study suggests the drop in T3 helped cause the slower metabolism.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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