Scientists talked about the benefits of cyclical weight loss and gain

Repeated periods of weight loss and subsequent recovery can have long-term health benefits, even if a person returns to their original body weight. This was reported on February 24 in the journal Medical Xpress.

We are talking about a phenomenon that scientists describe as cyclical weight loss and gain — a situation where a person loses weight due to lifestyle changes, and then eventually gains weight again and tries again. Traditionally, such cycles have been viewed as ineffective, but new data show a more complex picture of the effects on the body.

According to the head of the study, Professor Iris Shy, consistent adherence to healthy eating habits forms the so-called cardiometabolic memory. Even if the lost weight returns, the body retains positive changes, primarily associated with a decrease in visceral fat, a metabolically active tissue that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

"A constant commitment to a healthy diet creates a cardiometabolic memory. Repeated participation in weight loss programs can lead to significant and sustained health improvements even after regaining body weight," she noted.

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The study authors followed participants in two consecutive randomized nutrition and physical activity programs for five and ten years. In total, the analysis covered about 500 people. Before and after the interventions, the scientists performed an MRI scan, which allowed them to assess changes in body composition, not just weight.

It turned out that the participants who returned to the second stage of the program after full weight recovery showed more favorable metabolic parameters compared to the baseline level. The improvements were approximately 15-25% and included increased insulin sensitivity and improved lipid profile.

As explained by the lead author of the study, Hadar Klein, body weight alone does not reflect changes in visceral fat and metabolic biomarkers. Even with the return of weight, the metabolic state of the body can remain improved, so success cannot be assessed solely by the numbers on the scales.

Five years after completing the second program, participants also showed less abdominal fat accumulation and less weight gain compared to those who had completed the weight loss program only once. According to the researchers, the results call into question the traditional approach in which the effectiveness of weight loss is assessed solely by short-term results.

On February 11, scientists from University College London (UCL) found that obese people have a 70% higher risk of hospitalization or death from infections. It was also noted that people with a body mass index above 40 had a three-fold higher risk of severe infection.

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