A new study sheds light on the negative social and psychological effects of yo-yo dieting, also known as weight cycling.
The research, conducted by North Carolina State University, highlights the toxicity of this dieting pattern and the challenges people face in breaking free from it.
The study, led by Lynsey Romo, an associate professor of communication, was published in Qualitative Health Research.
It delves into the American cultural phenomenon of yo-yo dieting, where individuals are caught in a cycle of losing weight through diets or quick-fix solutions and then regaining it, often driven by societal pressures and beauty ideals.
Researchers conducted detailed interviews with 36 adults (13 men and 23 women) who had experienced big weight cycling, losing and regaining more than 11 pounds.
The aim was to understand the reasons behind their entry into this cycle and how they tried to escape it, if at all.
The findings showed that participants were primarily motivated to lose weight due to societal stigma and comparisons with celebrities or peers, rather than health reasons.
This societal pressure to conform to certain body standards initiated their journey into yo-yo dieting.
Participants reported using various weight-loss strategies that initially led to weight loss but eventually resulted in weight regain.
This regain often left them feeling ashamed and further internalized the stigma associated with weight, making them feel worse than before they started dieting. This shame, in turn, led to more extreme weight loss attempts.
Many participants engaged in harmful weight management behaviors such as binge or emotional eating, restrictive diets, calorie counting, stress over food and weight, reliance on quick-fix diets or drugs, excessive exercising, and avoiding social events with food.
These methods were unsustainable, leading to further weight gain, often exceeding the weight they initially lost.
The study highlights a concerning trend: almost all participants became obsessed with their weight to the point where it overshadowed other aspects of their lives, including relationships and social interactions.
The study suggests that most people should avoid dieting unless medically necessary and offers insights into combating the damaging aspects of weight cycling.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and the best time to take vitamins to prevent heart disease.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about plant nutrients that could help reduce high blood pressure, and these antioxidants could help reduce dementia risk.
The research findings can be found in Qualitative Health Research.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
