Weight cycling is defined as the repeated loss and regain of body weight. Weight changes may be as small as 5 lbs. or as much as 50 lbs. According to the Weight Control Information Network, health effects have been reported as a result of weight cycling, including a higher incidence to gain more weight over time. Your body weight is related to your risk of colon cancer.
Significance
You may have a higher risk of developing more belly fat if you tend to lose and regain weight frequently. Belly fat puts you at risk for some serious health conditions, including heart disease, gallbladder disorders, diabetes and certain forms of cancer. According to Reuters, you're 40 percent more likely to develop pre-cancerous cells in your colon if you have a large waistline.
Expert Insight
According to a 2010 study printed in the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention journal, post-menopausal women are more likely to die if they're unable to maintain a healthy body weight before colon cancer diagnosis. Women who were categorized as obese or had a large amount of belly fat were at the greatest risk of dying after diagnosis.
Considerations
You shouldn't feel as though you need to weight cycle to improve your health. Losing just 10 percent of your body weight over the course of six months reduces your risk of serious medical conditions, including cancer, the Weight Control Information Network says.
Prevention/Solution
Instead of weight cycling, look for ways to make long-term changes to your diet and exercise routine. Instead of following fad diets, eat nutritional foods made up of mostly fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Increase your calorie burn by exercising for at least 30 minutes daily.
Potential
Along with maintaining a healthy weight instead of weight cycling, undergo routine colon cancer screenings after age 50. During a colonoscopy, a camera is inserted through the rectum to check for pre-cancerous polyps. Based on the results, you'll be recommended repeated colonscopies throughout your lifetime.
