No matter what diet or intervention is attempted, some bodies seem to be resistant to weight loss. This can involve a variety of factors, from a slowed metabolism to a more serious medical condition. Working with a health care practitioner to determine why you are having problems with losing weight is the first step, but you may be able to reverse this over time through diet and exercise.
Identification
In the book, "The Fat Resistance Diet" by Dr. Leo Galland, he focuses on leptin resistance, or a hormone dysfunction that disrupts the body's natural ability to regulate appetite and metabolism, as the culprit. Lucy Beale says in "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss" that metabolic resistance in those who have a high percentage of body fat is the problem. A diet or exercise regimen not suited for a particular body type may also be the reason.
Significance
Being resistant to weight loss can be a frustrating experience, especially after changing a diet or exercise regimen drastically. Weight gain that leads to obesity also has been connected to a wide range of diseases, including high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, according to authors Frances Sizer and Ellie Whitney in the book "Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies." Still, Sizer and Whitney add, body weight is not the only factor in illness causation, and many people who carry excess weight live longer lives than their thinner counterparts. This is important to remember even while trying to determine the cause of weight loss resistance.
Prevention/Solution
Galland has 12 principles in dealing with fat resistance, which include choosing foods with high nutrient density, avoiding trans fats, eating fish three times a week, consuming a lot of fiber and limiting saturated fat, among others. Beale notes that foods should be identified on the glycemic index, and that those low on the chart, such as meat, eggs, greens and nuts, are the ones that should be eaten. Both note that making sure you eat enough, and get enough good fats, such as omega-3's, is essential to losing weight.
Time Frame
How long it takes to lose weight when the body has been resistant to weight loss depends on the individual. Galland notes that 6 to 10 pounds may be lost in two weeks on stage 1 of his diet, which includes 9 to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables a day and a generous amount of protein. Beale does not specify a time frame, but instead says weight loss may take time, but it will occur.
Considerations
If the body continues to be resistant to weight loss, see your doctor. You may be suffering from an underactive thyroid or other disorder. Working with a health care practitioner is recommended when drastically changing the diet. Exercise is necessary to stimulate and maintain weight loss.
References
- "The Fat Resistance Diet"; Dr. Leo Galland; 2006
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Glycemic Index Weight Loss"; Lucy Beale; 2005
- "Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies"; Frances Sizer and Ellie Whitney; 2007
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