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).

Many experts opine that weight cycling is more harmful than staying at a higher weight.

Weight cycling & Metabolic rate

• Studies have shown that weight cycling does not affect one’s metabolic rate.

Will weight cycling leave a person with more fat tissue and less lean tissue than if he or she had not dieted at all?

• 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.

• However, studies have not found that after a weight cycle people have more abdominal fat than they did before weight cycling.

Is weight cycling harmful to a person’s health?

• Many studies have projected a higher mortality rate related to weight cycling
• However, these studies were not designed to answer the question of how intentional weight loss by an obese person affects health.
• Most of the studies did not distinguish between those who lost and regained weight through dieting from those whose change in weight may have been due to other reasons, such as unsuspected illness or stress.

Is remaining overweight healthier than weight cycling?

• Currently, there is no conclusive proof that weight cycling is harmful to an obese person

• The fear of weight regain / cycling should not deter a person from trying to lose weight

In any scenario, if you focus on the following, it will always enhance your health & weight loss efforts.

1. Natural diet
2. Lots of green vegetables & fruits
3. Early to bed and early to rise
4. Daily walk & moderate exercise
5. Avoid stress
6. Spend lots of time outdoors

That’s all for the time being.

Cheers & Healthy living!