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What Is Weight Cycling?

Weight cycling is the repeated loss and regain of body weight. When weight

cycling is the result of dieting, it is often called “yo-yo” dieting. A weight

cycle can range from small weight losses and gains (5-10 lbs. per cycle) to

large changes in weight (50 lbs. or more per cycle).

Is

It Harmful?

You may have heard stories in the press claiming that weight cycling may be

harmful to your health. You also may have heard that staying at one weight is

better for you than weight cycling, even if you are obese. However, no

convincing evidence supports these claims, and most obesity researchers believe

that obese individuals should continue to try to control their body weight.

Won’t

Losing It Again Be Even Harder?

People who repeatedly lose and regain weight should not experience more

difficulty losing weight each time they diet. Most studies have shown that

weight cycling does not affect one’s metabolic rate. Metabolic rate is the rate

at which food is burned for energy. Based on these findings, weight cycling

should not affect the success of future weight loss efforts. However, everyone,

whether they have dieted or not, experiences a slowing of the metabolism as they

age. In addition, older people are often less physically active then when they

were younger. Therefore, people often find it more difficult to lose weight as

they get older.

Will

Weight Cycling Leave Me With More Fat?

Weight cycling has not been proven to increase the amount of fat tissue in

people who lose and regain weight. Researchers have found that after a weight

cycle people have the same amount of fat and lean tissue as they did prior to

weight cycling.

What

About Abdominal Fat?

Weight Cycling  was originally published on blackdoctor.org

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