Doug Freyburger > wrote:

>Metabolism reduces with reduced intake. At some point it hits a bottom
>and we starve. Long before that reduced metabolism interferes with
>weight loss. We've discussed this in terms of too low in carb for too
>long resulting in a long term adjustment that I call "Eskimo mode" to
>slow down fat burning but there are similar mechanisms in place for too
>little fat and protein. [..]

>And if the body burned fat first during starvation many would not
>survive the famine. Evolution forced metabolic reduction during
>starvation. To lose without rebound takes a smaller caloric reduction,
>a skill issue not a willpower issue.

This is why weight-loss diets are in the 1200 to 1500 calorie/day
range, unless there is some medical reason to lose weight faster
(such as preparing for surgery, or reversing the recent onset
of diabetes).

You really don't want to diet down to where these metabolic changes
are truly significant.

Steve