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Dr Russ Blog - Ups and Downs - Does Weight Cycling Make Future Weight Loss Harder?
Ups and Downs - Does Weight Cycling Make Future Weight Loss Harder?
Created on 11/17/2009
I received a very timely question today from B who asks whether repeated episodes of "yo-yo dieting" can make it harder for someone to lose weight in the future. It's a great question, B, and one that has been coming up more and more for some reason. First, let's define the topic. Yo-yo dieting, or weight cycling, is simply the losing and subsequent gaining back, and losing and subsequent gaining back, and losing and gaining back (you get the idea!) of unwanted weight. This can happen when we go on a weight loss diet, then months later try another weight loss diet, and so on. Many of us try to lose weight by dieting, often to the extreme. This type of program is usually not sustainable or healthy, and frequently leads to the type of issue (weight cycling) at hand. The best way to lose weight appropriately is to hold to a consistent program that works for you and is based at least in part on healthy eating and a regular program of exercise. Some people feel that weight cycling makes future weight loss more difficult, but the research does not support this idea. Weight cycling does not appear to affect a person's metabolism. That said, as we get older it can be more difficult to lose weight for a number of reasons, including that our metabolism slows down with age. This fact may be why some people find it more difficult to lose weight following repeated bouts of weight cycling. So, even if you have "yo-yo" dieted in the past, it's a good idea to get on an appropriate weight loss program soon because this may be the time when you lose weight appropriately and keep it off, all to the betterment of your health. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) put out a very good article on weight cycling last year over their Weight-control Information Network (WIN). If you'd like to learn more about weight cycling visit this page on the NIDDK web site - http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/cycling.htm. I hope this helps, Be well. Dr. Russ
** Information on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. **
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