Yo-Yo Dieters Should Not Give Up On Healthy Diet, Physical Activity

Constantly shedding and regaining pounds – a common phenomenon known as weight cycling or “yo-yo dieting” – does not adversely affect metabolism or reduce the ability to lose weight over the long term, a U.S. study has found. Researchers analyzed data from 439 overweight-to-obese  sedentary women, ages 50 to 75, who were assigned to diet-exercise plans or no plan at all. Eighteen percent were severe weight cyclers who had lost 20 or more pounds at least three times; 24 percent were moderate weight cyclers. Reason for optimism: all of the dieters-exercisers lost weight, and cyclers did not differ from the non-cyclers in the amount of weight loss.