Side Effects Of Weight Loss Cycling : In today's time, in the desire to look fit and lose weight quickly, people often fall into the trap of various types of dieting or gym. By starving for a few days or eating very little, weight is lost rapidly, but after a few weeks the weight comes back to the same or even more. This cycle of repeated increase and decrease in weight is called 'weight cycling' or 'yo-yo dieting'. It may seem like a common thing, but it has a very deep and dangerous effect on your body. Let us understand in very simple and colloquial language what are the bad effects of frequent weight changes on our body.
slowing metabolism
When you suddenly start eating very little or adopt a crash diet, the body stops getting the required energy calories. In such a situation, to protect itself, the body slows down its working speed i.e. metabolism so that work can be done even with less energy. After this, when you start eating normally again and your weight increases rapidly, your metabolism does not become as fast as before. This is the reason why losing weight next time becomes even more difficult.
severe muscle loss
When people try to lose weight too fast, they are often not only losing fat, but their body muscles also become weak and shrink. Due to loss of muscle mass, both the body's strength and ability to burn calories reduce. The result is that the body starts feeling weak from within and tired all the time.
hormonal imbalance
Due to repeated weight loss and gain, the hormones of the body which control our appetite and feeling of fullness get disturbed.
Leptin: This is the hormone that signals our brain that the stomach is full. Due to worsening of the weight cycle, the level of leptin decreases, due to which one does not feel full even after filling the stomach.
Ghrelin: It is a hormone that increases appetite. Due to increase in its quantity, one feels hungry again and again and the desire to eat sweet or fried things becomes very strong.
Risk of heart health and blood pressure
Yo-yo dieting has the worst effect on our heart. Due to these repeated fluctuations, internal swelling starts increasing inside the body. Due to this, the risk of high blood pressure, bad cholesterol and heart related diseases increases significantly.
Risk of type-2 diabetes
When body weight fluctuates repeatedly, cells stop using insulin properly. This is called 'insulin resistance'. Due to this, the body is not able to control blood sugar properly, due to which the chances of getting diabetes in future increases.
Mental stress, fatigue and irritability
Repeatedly trying to lose weight and then failing and gaining the weight back takes a toll on mental health. Due to this, the person becomes a victim of constant stress, disappointment, depression and irritability. Many times people also get trapped in serious mental problems related to eating habits.
If you really want to stay fit, then instead of adopting shortcuts or doing crash dieting, make a healthy lifestyle, balanced eating and regular physical activity a part of your life. If the weight is lost gradually then it is sustainable, but due to yo-yo dieting, the body can become completely weak from inside.
FAQ
What is weight cycling or yo-yo dieting?
Repeated rapid loss of weight and then regaining it is called weight cycling or yo-yo dieting.
What effect does frequent increase or decrease in weight have on metabolism?
The body slows down its metabolism to protect itself, which makes it more difficult to lose weight later.
What effect do ghrelin and leptin hormones have on weight?
Leptin (the hormone that signals fullness) decreases and ghrelin (the hunger-inducing hormone) increases, leading to frequent hunger pangs.
Does yo-yo dieting cause diabetes?
Yes, frequent weight changes cause insulin resistance, which increases the risk of developing type-2 diabetes in future.