Weight Cycling: How Does It Affect You?
Friday, November 23rd, 2007The repeated loss of body weight followed by weight re-gain is called weight cycle. A small weight cycle is the loss and regain of up to ten lbs. Large weight cycles imply the loss and regain of fifty lbs or more.
Although specialists can`t say for sure how weight cycling is related to health problems, some studies showed a connection to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and gallbladder disease. In time, women affected by weight cycle gain more weight compared to women who don`t, according to studies.
Binge eating was also associated to weight cycling for women. Some people who deal with weight cycling tend to feel depressed, although gaining weight is not a failure and may disappear when eating habits change.
Researchers did not prove that fat tissues increase or muscle mass decrease after a weight cycle. However, studies showed that weight cycling has nothing to do with the metabolic rate, or how fast food energy is burned. This rate can be slowed down as people get older.
Specialists recommend lifelong changes for people who try to maintain a healthy weight but face weight cycling. A healthy diet that includes more high-fiber food such as fruit or vegetables should be a start for them.
Some people think that they put more fat around the stomach because of weight cycling but studies proved this to be a myth. However, some researchers noticed that women with a history of weight cycling present thicker layers of fat in the stomach area than women who didn`t faced weigh cycling.
Many issues regarding weight cycling are still unclear, and researchers need to conduct further studies in order to establish what influence this process has on people. One research goal is to establish weight cycling is a cause, or effect, of insufficient physical and mental health.
Meanwhile, if you`re dealing with a weight cycle, remember to change your eating habits and bring more physical activity to your life.