Why do some monkeys stay active longer when eating less?
Long-term calorie restriction decreases metabolic cost of movement and prevents decrease of physical activity during aging in the rhesus monkeys
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Total daily energy expenditure didn't drop despite 30% fewer calories and lower resting metabolism.
Most people assume eating less = burning less overall, but this study shows the body compensates by increasing activity and efficiency.
Practical Takeaways
Focus on moving more efficiently—strength training and daily movement may help your body burn less energy per activity, preserving energy for longevity.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Total daily energy expenditure didn't drop despite 30% fewer calories and lower resting metabolism.
Most people assume eating less = burning less overall, but this study shows the body compensates by increasing activity and efficiency.
Practical Takeaways
Focus on moving more efficiently—strength training and daily movement may help your body burn less energy per activity, preserving energy for longevity.
Publication
Journal
Experimental gerontology
Year
2013
Authors
Yosuke Yamada, R. Colman, J. Kemnitz, S. Baum, Rozalyn M. Anderson, R. Weindruch, D. Schoeller
Related Content
Claims (6)
When people eat way fewer calories for a long time, their organs can get smaller, and that makes their body burn fewer calories overall.
Monkeys that eat fewer calories for a long time tend to move around more and stay active longer than monkeys that eat normally, even though they're taking in less energy.
Monkeys that eat less over a long time use less energy when they move around, which means their muscles work more efficiently — like a car that gets better gas mileage.
Even though monkeys on a low-calorie diet burn less energy while sleeping and eat less, their total daily energy use stays the same because they move around more and spend less energy moving, so it all balances out.
Monkeys that ate less for many years burn fewer calories while sleeping, even when you account for how much muscle they have, as if their bodies learned to use less energy just to stay alive.