[2][3] A central element of the Summermatter cycle is that reductions in energy intake, occurring with dieting or starvation, initially successfully induce weight and adipose tissue loss.
[1] At the same time, the reduced food availability prompts ambulatory activity, which further accelerates body and fat mass loss and depletes ATP, glycogen and intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) in skeletal muscle.
[6][7] Satiety signals during the period of food availability automatically lead to rest, which further supports adipose tissue regain and the restoration of glycogen and IMCL pools in muscle.
[1] The hypothesis was put forward in 2012[1] and Benton, et al. named the cycle in 2017 after its inventor, the Swiss biochemist, nutritionist and exercise physiologist Dr. Serge Summermatter.
[8] The concept of the Summermatter cycle finds broad application in body weight management to time exercise interventions and avoid catch-up fat (yo-yo effect).