Yo-Yo Dieting: Will You Regain Lost Weight?

Tweet

The fact that celebrities such as Kirstie Alley and Oprah Winfrey, who have financial resources most Americans don't have, still can't lose weight and keep it off shows what a formidable challenge it is, says psychologist Thomas Wadden, director of the Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Yo-yo dieting is probably the most common outcome of efforts to lose weight, says Wadden. "People do lose weight, but the majority regain some or all of their weight, whether it's over one year, two years, three years or five." Regaining takes a toll on people emotionally, he says. "People often feel very ashamed, humiliated and powerless." It's natural to blame yourself, but it's not that simple, he says. After you lose weight, there's a cascade of biological responses designed to return you to your pre-diet levels. A hunger hormone called ghrelin increases, and a fullness hormone called leptin decreases, Wadden says. Besides fighting your biology, you are also up against a culture in which food is available 24/7 and exercise has been squeezed out of people's lives, he says. For the complete story, go to http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2009-05-26-yo-yo-diet_N.htm


Author: John McGran

Archived posts 2009

Tweet