What is yo-yo dieting?
The lure of fast weight loss can be hard to resist, with the promise of a new body and a new life. But most eating plans or fad diets that help you to lose a lot of weight quickly are very hard to stick to over the long-term.
The weight that’s lost will often rapidly return once you go off the diet, resulting in an up-and-down pattern in body weight. That’s where the term yo-yo dieters originates, describing people who are constantly going on and off fad diets. It’s also referred to as weight cycling, and there is new research to show that it may be associated with some risks to your health.
The research
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggested that habitual dieters who constantly lose weight and then put it back on again may develop lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol – which can have a negative impact on heart health.
The researchers suggested that women who lost at least 4 kg three or more times had 7% lower HDL cholesterol levels than women who maintained a stable weight.
According to the researchers, this may be particularly important for women, because HDL cholesterol is a significant marker for heart health in women.
How to avoid yo-yo dieting
The following tips may help you to lose body fat and prevent dangerous fluctuations in weight associated with fad dieting.
References available on request