EVIDENCE FOR AN ABNORMAL POSTPRANDIAL RESPONSE TO A HIGH-FAT MEAL IN WOMEN PREDISPOSED TO OBESITY

The present study was undertaken to investigate fat metabolism after a high-fat meal [50 energy percent (E%) fat] in formerly obese subjects with a familial history of obesity. Twelve normal-weight postobese wo men (PO) and 12 closely matched controls were given the test meal afte r a 2-day carbohydrate-rich weight-maintenance diet (58 E% carbohydrat e). Whereas the thermic effect of the meals was similar in the two gro ups, postprandial fat oxidation was 2.5 times more suppressed in PO co mpared with controls (P < 0.05). A similarly enhanced suppression of a rterialized plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids was see n postprandially in PO (P < 0.05), possibly due to a more marked suppr ession of epinephrine and a reduced glucagon response in PO than in co ntrols. Moreover, the postprandial plasma triglyceride response was at tenuated and only amounted to 43% of that in controls (P < 0.05). This may be explained by a more pronounced increase in gastric inhibitory polypeptide in PO, giving rise to a higher adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase activity. No other differences were found in plasma substrates and hormones or in subjective appetite scores. In conclusion, a metabo lic and hormonal pattern favoring lipid storage was observed in postob ese subjects after a high-fat meal.