The yo-yo effect, or weight cycling, is a pattern that most people have undergone as they repeatedly lose weight only to gain it again, going through cycles of dieting, losing weight then gaining it back. This effect is particularly prevalent among people who go on a diet without making any changes to their lifestyle that can be maintained in the long-term.
What is the Yo-Yo Effect?
It becomes common among people who try very rigorous diets especially extreme or very restrictive ones. Such diets may work wonders in a short span but they tend to be unrealistic within a longer period. Once a person returns to their usual eating habits, weight is gained back often to levels higher than before.
More often than not this cycle may prove to be very irritating considering how one constantly goes back to dieting only to dish out a more drastic increase in weight. In addition, the yo yo effect fluctuates weight as well as other physical and mental aspects.
Health Implications of the Yo-Yo Effect
1. Slowed Metabolism Rate:
The cycle of gaining and losing weight creates a deficit in the basal metabolic rate which makes it harder for an individual to get rid of excess fat in the future. In this case, the term “adaptive thermogenesis” refers to the situation where the body is able to maintain its current body weight on fewer calories than before, therefore making even weight maintenance a harder task as time goes by.
2. Increase In Body Fat Content:
Generally, people, when obese and on every weight loss and gain cycle, tend to lose muscle, while there is fat gain upon regaining weight. This helps explain why increasing body fat content may be noted even when the weight of an individual remains constant throughout the years.
3. Risk In Cardiovascular Health:
Research has associated the yo-yo syndrome with higher risks of cardiovascular complications. Weight oscillation may also contribute to abnormal levels of blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood glucose which are common risk factors for heart diseases.
4. Mental Stress:
The repeated pattern of gaining weight and failing to maintain the weight loss also known as the yo-yo effect brings distress and stress resulting in frustrations and low self-worth among affected individuals.
5. Risk Of Development Of Eating Disorders:
Such individuals who are constantly engaging in weight resetting might overeat once they give in to a dieting regime due to the alimentary control mechanism.
Conclusion
The Yo-Yo Effect is a difficult loop that affects physical health as much as it does psychological health. Weight cycling is difficult to eradicate due to its addictive nature but it would help a lot of people in overcoming it to make sustainable lifestyle modifications and to learn how to take care of them healthwise in a more holistic manner. Weight management is an ongoing process, not a 100m race. With firm belief, moderation in food, and healthy living, one can reach as well as sustain a healthy body weight over time without the risk of weight cycling.
