RECOVERY OF INITIAL BODY-WEIGHT AND COMPOSITION AFTER LONG-TERM MASSIVE OVERFEEDING IN MEN

To verify the existence of a set point for body mass, the spontaneous evolution of body weight and composition after massive overfeeding was observed in nine lean young Cameroonian (Massa) men participating in a 4-6 mo traditional fattening session (Guru). Anthropometry (skinfold thicknesses) was used to estimate body composition. Peak weight and fat gains were found to be 19 +/- 3.2 (($) over bar x +/- SD) kg and 11.8 +/- 2.5 kg, respectively. Two and one-half years after cessation of fattening and a return to daily life and food habits, there was a spontaneous return to initial body weight and body composition of the overfed subjects. Because the subjects were not under social or other stimuli to lose weight, this finding argues in favor of the existence of a biological control of energy balance at a ''preferred'' level in nonobese individuals.