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Male and female cats have different regional body compositions and energy requirements for weight loss and weight maintenance
Author(s) -
Vasconcellos Ricardo Souza,
Gonçalves Kariogueira Venturelli,
Borges Naida Cristina,
Paula Francisco José Albuquerque,
Canola Júlio Carlos,
Gomes Márcia,
Miltenburg Tânia Zóia,
Carciofi Aulus Cavalieri
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/jpn.13127
Subject(s) - trunk , weight loss , lean body mass , energy requirement , cats , zoology , body weight , medicine , endocrinology , dual energy x ray absorptiometry , fat mass , obesity , biology , bone mineral , ecology , psychology , osteoporosis , regression , psychoanalysis
Body composition and energy requirements are different between males and females in several species, and both interfere with weight loss. The aim of this study was to compare the total and regional body composition and energy requirements in obese male ( n = 8) and female ( n = 8) cats, during weight loss and weight maintenance over 17 subsequent weeks after regimen. The total and regional (thoracic and pelvic limbs, and trunk) body composition was assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA). Females exhibited a higher fat mass (FM) than males ( p < 0.05), and the trunk was the site with greater fat accumulation regardless of gender. A 23.0 ± 2.8% reduction in body weight was followed by a 50.3 ± 9.4% and a 37.0 ± 8.9% reduction in fat in the trunk region in males and females respectively. Lean mass (LM) mobilization was also increased in the trunk ( p < 0.05), and the loss of LM was associated with a reduction in bone mass. The energy intake to achieve the same rate of weight loss was 12.9 ± 3.4% higher in males ( p < 0.05). The cats exhibited a gradual increase in energy requirements to maintain their body weight after weight loss ( p < 0.05). It was concluded that obese cats mainly accumulate fat in the trunk. The reduction in lean mass after the regimen also occurred in the trunk, with no modifications in the skeletal muscle mass of the limbs. Neutered male cats have higher energy requirements than neutered females, and gender should be considered during obesity management in cats.