PSVIII-10 - An experimental weight management food supports metabolism and allows for less calorie restriction for weight loss in both dogs and cats: A retrospective analysis

Abstract: Obesity is a growing health concern in dogs and cats. Furthermore, decreased maintenance energy requirements after weight loss has been linked to rebound weight gain in dogs and cats. Previous research completed by our group has demonstrated that feeding a targeted weight management food to dogs and cats during both the maintenance and weight loss phases results in weight loss and improved body condition despite increases in caloric intake during the weight maintenance phase. As such, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding two different weight management foods on weight loss on a per Kcal basis in dogs and cats. Obese adult dogs (n=39) and cats (n=38) were subjected to a 36-d maintenance phase and then a 112-d weight loss phase in which they were fed either a standard weight management food (control) or a weight management food that included a blend of specific fibers, immuno-modulators, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory botanicals, and lipotropes (test). During the maintenance phase, pets were fed an adjusted amount of calories needed to maintain weight. Diets were adjusted throughout the weight loss phase to achieve a 1-2% reduction in BW per week. Intake was collected daily and body weight (BW) was recorded every 7 d. To calculate the calorie deficit needed to achieve one unit of weight loss, metabolizable energy estimated from modified Atwater equations and food intake were used and the delta of energy intake between maintenance and weight loss phases was divided by the delta of the BW change during weight loss. Delta energy/delta weight was reduced (P=0.020) in cats fed the test food when compared to pets fed the control food such that cats fed the weight loss food required a deficit of 56.5 kcal/d and cats fed the control food required a deficit of 82.8 kcal/d to achieve 1 kg of BW loss. Similarly, delta energy/delta weight was reduced (P=0.045) in dogs fed the test food when compared to dogs fed the control food such that dogs fed the weight loss food required a deficit of 57.2 kcal/d and dogs fed the control food required a deficit of 95.0 kcal/d to achieve 1 kg of BW loss. Overall, feeding the targeted weight management test food resulted in weight loss with less of a calorie deficit when compared to feeding the control food, suggesting that the metabolism of dogs and cats is altered by the test food. These data suggest that feeding a food that requires less of a calorie deficit to lose body weight allows pets to consume more food, contributing to improved satiety, without negating their weight loss process. Future research may support a benefit against rebound weight gain.