About 40% of American adults are obese. And for many people It can feel like a roller coaster as their weight fluctuates up and down.
The cycle of losing and gaining weight is repeated. or commonly known as Yo-yo effectThis may be due to a type of “metabolic memory” in which the body remembers and tries to return to its previous state of obesity. According to a new study
“Obesity is a chronic disease that has a significant impact on metabolism. which is strongly linked to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease,” study author Ferdinand von Meyenne, Ph.D., assistant professor of nutrition and metabolic epigenetics at ETH Zurich in Switzerland, told Fox News Digital.
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“A well-documented observation is that The body tends to protect against weight gain. This makes weight loss and maintenance notoriously challenging.”
A new study reveals a cycle of weight loss and gain on reps, commonly known as the yo-yo effect. May be due to A kind of “metabolic memory” (Istock)
Obesity is a common chronic disease in the United States, with 1 in 5 children and 2 in 5 adults meeting the criteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
New research published in November in the journal Nature points to epigenetics. (genetic activity) that may play a role in weight regain after weight loss
What is epigenetics?
“Epigenetics, which involves chemical markers that influence the activity of genes without changing the DNA sequence. It is critical to cell function and response to environmental factors,” said Dr. Fatima Cody, a Stanford obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and Haar School of Medicine. Ward told Fox News Digital
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“These markers can change based on lifestyle factors, such as diet, and can persist for years, creating cellular ‘memories’ of past conditions such as obesity,” said Stanford, which did not. It is part of the research study, he added.
It is well known that cells retain their genetic identity while dividing. Researchers wonder what happens to fat cells. They live on average for about 10 years before the body takes over, von Meyenne said.
Researchers have examined what happens to fat cells, which live an average of 10 years before being replaced by the body. (Istock)
This is different from other cells in tissues, which divide much more quickly. For example, cells in the intestines generally divide every few weeks. every other week
Fat cells still have to adapt to external stimuli and undergo epigenetic adaptation, von Meynn said.
The researchers aim to determine whether these changes are reversible.
Fights ‘memories’ in fat cells
in mouse studies Researchers found that even after significant weight loss, Their cells also have a “memory” of obesity encoded in the epigenome. It controls the activity of genes, von Meyenne noted.
“Our study indicates that one reason it is difficult to maintain weight after initial weight loss is that fat cells remember a past state of obesity and tend to return to this state,” he told Fox News Digital.
“The body tends to protect against weight gain. This makes weight loss and maintenance very challenging.”
“This means that we must ‘fight’ fat memories to maintain body weight.”
From this research Failure to maintain weight loss after dieting is not necessarily due to a lack of effort or willpower. But it may also be caused by hidden biological phenomena, von Meyenne added.
Possible limitations
The research studied only adipose tissue. And they studied the genetic mechanism only in mice. However, the researchers say they believe a similar mechanism could apply to humans as well.
However, other experts Be warned that this study only shows an association. Nor does it prove that epigenetic changes cause the yo-yo.
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“The authors point out that they cannot say for sure that epigenetic modifications directly cause people to regain the weight they lost. or identify which epigenetic marks might be driving this effect,” Petronella Ravenshear, a board-certified nutritionist and author of “The Human” is losing weight,” told Fox News Digital.
Ravenshear, based in Florida which is not part of this research study noted that the findings should not lead people to claim that “It’s not my fault. But it’s my genes!”
Future research plans
“Now we will have to expand. See how you can erase memories. and other cells or tissues Will[such as]the brain or liver be affected?” von Meyenne said.
It might be possible if people maintain a healthy weight for a year or longer after dieting. That may be enough time to erase the memories in the fat cells, according to Ravenshear.
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“These findings highlight the importance of obesity prevention. Especially in children and teenagers to avoid creating an epigenetic memory that complicates long-term weight management,” says Stanford.
“Further understanding of these mechanisms may lead to more effective treatment and prevention strategies. It emphasizes the need for a proactive approach to weight management from an early age,” she added.
‘Way of life’
The word “diet” in its original connotation meant “lifestyle,” but is now synonymous with unsustainable, short-term dietary changes, Ravenshear noted.
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People often regain the weight they lost when they resume the eating habits that caused them to gain weight in the first place. Many experts agree.
Ravenshear cites Professor David Benton of Swansea University in the United Kingdom. The author of “Tackling the Obesity Crisis” recently shared in an interview with the Guardian that “the mantra is weight loss.”
One expert recommends focusing on breaking your addiction to sugar and refined carbohydrates. and turn to eating new foods (Istock)
“It failed because it was to avoid regaining the lost weight. You need to change your diet permanently.”
After eating, many people return to the old lifestyle that caused the problem in the first place, he said.
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“Eating snacks often and eating foods that are calorie-dense and nutrient-poor. It will cause our blood sugar to stop. increase insulin levels and increase inflammation And inflammation itself makes it harder to lose weight,” Ravenshear told Fox News Digital.
“Eating foods that are calorie-dense and lacking nutrients disrupts blood sugar levels. increase insulin levels and increase inflammation And inflammation can make it harder to lose weight,” one expert warns. (Istock)
She recommends focusing on breaking your addiction to sugar and refined carbohydrates. and turn to eating new foods
Experts recommend choosing Whole Foods That Are Nutrient DenseEat three meals a day. and fasting with nothing but water for five hours between meals.
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Weight loss occurs as a side effect of balancing hormones and reducing inflammation.
Ravenshear added: “When we get calories But they are not nutrients that our bodies and brains need. We will always be hungry because our brain drives us to continue searching for food.”
