Most people do not have a problem with losing weight, they have a problem with keeping the weight off once they lose it, according to an article published on DailyMail.co.uk in 2011. Regaining lost weight often leads to yo-yo dieting as people try to get to their desired weight and stay there.
Definition
Yo-yo dieting, also called weight cycling, is a process where you repeatedly lose weight, only to gain it back again, possibly along with some extra pounds you didn't have before. The amount of weight involved varies, with some people repeatedly losing and regaining only five or ten pounds, while others lose and regain 50 pounds or more.
Risks
Yo-yo dieting increases your risk for depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease, according to an article published in 2008 on USNews.com. The risk appears to be higher for those closer to a normal weight than for those who are obese. However, many doctors still feel it is less risky to try to lose weight and gain it back than not to try at all, since eventually you might be successful.
Prevention
You can try a number of different strategies to make weight regain and yo-yo dieting less likely. First, instead of going on a diet, try making permanent lifestyle changes, such as no longer drinking sodas or no longer eating in front of the television. You should also keep in mind that losing weight and keeping it off is a never-ending process. If you start to slide back into your old habits and your weight starts to creep up you need to do something about it right away to keep a two-pound weight gain from turning into a twenty or thirty pound weight gain or more. Weighing yourself every day can help you catch weight gain before it becomes a problem.
Considerations
When you lose weight, changes occur in your body that make it easier for you to gain that weight back. Hormone levels change to make you feel less full and more hungry, for example. Scientists are also looking into other ways to help people lose weight and keep it off. Levels of certain proteins, including angiotensin-converting enzyme, may help to determine whether you are more likely to be able to lose weight and keep it off, according to a 2011 article in the journal "PLoS ONE." By testing these protein levels, doctors may eventually be able to predict whether you will be successful in your weight loss efforts, and give additional help to those who are more likely to regain lost weight.
References
- Weight Control Information Network: Weight Cycling; May 2008
- "Daily Mail"; End of the Yo-Yo Diet? Scientists Discover Key Protein Which Piles the Weight Back On; Fiona Macrae; Feb. 24, 2011
- "USA Today"; Yo-Yo Dieting Can Be the Toughest Bounce of All; Nanci Hellmich; May 27, 2009
- "U.S. News & World Report"; The Ups and Downs of 'Yo-Yo' Dieting; Karen Pallarito; Oct. 24, 2008
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