This could be the end of yo-yo dieting once and for all.
Picture this: the holiday you booked last year is tiptoeing ever closer, but all you can think about is how you’ll look more beached whale than beach ready in those dreaded holiday snaps. Or, what about the school reunion in three weeks that you’ve just remembered you Facebook RSVP’d four months back? The feeling of panic sweeps over you like a tidal wave as you wonder, ‘Has everyone else put on 2 stone since we last saw each other, or is it just me?’.
It’s so tempting to try to quickly shed a few pounds by going on one of those weird juice detox diets that your friend’s aunt swears by, or that 1 Flat Belly Tip that your internet browser just won’t stop flashing at you. So, you throw out all your cupboard goodies and there you are. Staring at your fridge, starving.
Well, you’re not alone. Research by Mintel has found that half of all British men and women are on a diet at any one time (that’s a whopping 33 million people). But did you know that when you’re trying to lose weight, your brain detects the energy deficit in your diet and promotes fat storage and hunger to compensate? That's why researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that nearly 65% of people who try to lose weight end up putting it all back on (and sometimes a little extra, too). Cheers, brain.
Neuroscientists have identified a molecular 'switch' in the brain that controls our fat storing instincts
Now we've made you lose all hope of ever fitting into your old Levis again, here's some better news. Neuroscientists at Monash University in Australia have just identified a molecular 'switch' in the brain that can potentially control our body's natural instincts to store fat after weight loss1.
Associate Profressor Andrews and his colleagues discovered the hunger-processing switch in mice earlier this month, called carnitine acetyltransferase, or 'Crat'. For the first time, these neural proteins have been identified as responsible for instructing the body to replenish any lost weight from dieting through increased fat storage.
By removing the neural cells responsible for increasing fat storage after weight loss, researchers have observed a prompt decline in food intake and profound body weight loss due to increased fat utilisation.
The researchers expressed that by regulating the Crat protein, they have the opportunity to trick the brain to ensure that people can maintain their diet-induced weight loss, rather than slowly regaining it.
This isn't a free pass to chow down on all the pizzas and pies you can get your hands on, though, as unfortunately they haven't tested the process in humans just yet. While we wait, here are some practical tips to help maintain weight loss...
How To Stop Yo-Yo Dieting
Yo-yo dieting, AKA weight cycling, is the repeted loss and gain of weight (the scales going up and down, much like a yo-yo). Yo-yo dieters can often easily and rapidly lose a few pounds, or even a few stone, through extremely restrictive crash diets. After a period of time, be it months or even years, the yo-yo dieter begins to eat more and regain the weight they lost due to changes in hormone signalling and metabolic processes. They then try to lose the weight again, repeating the cycle.
Researchers have found that serial slimmers tend to live longer than those who are just overweight
It all sounds too familiar to the average Brit. Yo-yo dieting has been shown to decrease bone density contributing to frailty over time, as well as causing great emotional distress. Don't feel like the odds are totally stacked against you, though, because researchers at the University of Alabama have found that serial slimmers actually tend to live longer than those who are just overweight and don't do anything about it. Plus, yo-yo dieters don't have any less of a chance of losing weight than first-timers.
Seek Support
Move The Goal Posts
Aim for something more rewarding that you can keep working on, like training for a 10k run, or playing in a local sports team. Keep setting new goals every time you achieve one and you're more likely to stay on track (and probably meet some great new people, too).
Manage Expectations
Manage your expectations when you're trying to lose weight by aiming for a healthy amount of weight loss over a longer period of time. The NHS recommends a loss of 1-2lb of bodyweight per week as a safe and sustainable amount of weight to lose.
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Our articles should be used for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you're concerned, consult a health professional before taking dietary supplements or introducing any major changes to your diet.
- Reichenbach, A., Stark, R., Mequinion, M., Denis, R. R., Goularte, J. F., Clarke, R. E., … & Huang, C. (2018). AgRP Neurons Require Carnitine Acetyltransferase to Regulate Metabolic Flexibility and Peripheral Nutrient Partitioning. Cell reports, 22(7), 1745-1759.
Jennifer Blow has a Bachelor’s of Science in Nutritional Science and a Master’s of Science by Research in Nutrition, and now specialises in the use of sports supplements for health and fitness, underpinned by evidence-based research.
Jennifer has been quoted or mentioned as a nutritionist in major online publications including Vogue, Elle, and Grazia, for her expertise in nutritional science for exercise and healthy living.
Her experience spans from working with the NHS on dietary intervention trials, to specific scientific research into omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and also the effect of fast foods on health, which she has presented at the annual Nutrition Society Conference. Jennifer is involved in many continuing professional development events to ensure her practise remains at the highest level. Find out more about Jennifer’s experience here.
In her spare time, Jennifer loves hill walking and cycling, and in her posts you’ll see that she loves proving healthy eating doesn’t mean a lifetime of hunger.
