A review of research on repeated weight loss and regain suggests that yo yo dieting is not necessarily as harmful as it is often portrayed. Concerns about weight regain after weight loss should therefore not discourage individuals from attempting to lose weight, the researchers conclude.
Many people experience fluctuations in body weight throughout their lives, and so‑called yo‑yo dieting has long been considered a health risk - in some cases even more harmful than remaining overweight.
It has, for example, been associated with negative health effects such as increased fat mass, loss of muscle mass, reduced metabolic rate and a higher risk of diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
However, careful evaluation of the research does not provide strong evidence that these negative effects can be attributed to yo‑yo dieting in itself - or that it is more harmful than persistent overweight, says Professor Faidon Magkos from the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at the University of Copenhagen, who together with a German colleague has reviewed the available research in a comprehensive analysis.
- The scientific article is a Personal View, a format in which existing knowledge in the field is synthesised into an expert, evidence‑based assessment.
- A Personal View is peer‑reviewed.
- There may be disagreement among researchers regarding the analysis.
- The analysis has been published in the international peer‑reviewed medical journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.
