American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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What does an RQ (Respiratory Quotient) greater than 1 indicate?

Fatty acids are being metabolized
Protein metabolism
Lipogenesis
Carbohydrate metabolism

The correct answer is: Lipogenesis

An RQ (Respiratory Quotient) greater than 1 typically indicates that the body is in a state of positive energy balance, where there is an excess of substrates being utilized for energy, particularly in the formation of fat from carbohydrates, a process known as lipogenesis. When the RQ exceeds 1, it suggests that the rate of carbon dioxide production is greater than the rate of oxygen consumption. This occurs during periods of increased carbohydrate intake where excess carbohydrates are being converted into fat for storage, rather than being used immediately for energy. Therefore, this state reflects a metabolic process favoring the accumulation of body fat, characteristic of lipogenesis. In comparison, RQ values near 0.7 are indicative of fat metabolism, while values around 0.8 suggest protein metabolism and values of 1 or less often reflect carbohydrate metabolism, particularly during energy-deficient states.