TY - JOUR

T1 - The Physiological Effects of Weight-Cycling

T2 - A Review of Current Evidence

AU - Sanaya, Nora

AU - Janusaite, Monika

AU - Dalamaga, Maria

AU - Magkos, Faidon

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Purpose of Review: There is a common perception among the public that yo-yo dieting, defined as repeated cycles of weight loss followed by weight regain, results in accumulation of fat in the body and lower metabolic rate, thus hindering subsequent attempts to lose weight. We evaluated the effects of weight-cycling on body weight and body mass index (BMI), body composition including fat mass (FM) and lean body mass (LBM), and resting metabolic rate (RMR), by systematically reviewing existing scientific literature. Recent Findings: Twenty-three cross-sectional and cohort studies (including subjects with a history of weight-cycling compared to those without such history) and interventional studies (evaluating physiological effects during one or more cycles of weight loss and regain) were identified, conducted in generally healthy adults across various age groups, races, and both genders, who had normal weight, overweight, or obesity. Eighteen studies investigated the association between weight-cycling and body weight or BMI, and thirteen of them found no significant association. Fifteen out of twenty studies also found no increase in FM, and none of eighteen studies found a decrease in LBM. Twelve out of fourteen studies reported no adverse changes in RMR either. Summary: The overwhelming majority of evidence suggests that weight-cycling (yo-yo effect) is not associated with any adverse effects in body weight, body composition, and metabolic rate. Accordingly, healthy individuals who struggle with overweight or obesity should not be discouraged from repeated attempts to lose the excess weight.

AB - Purpose of Review: There is a common perception among the public that yo-yo dieting, defined as repeated cycles of weight loss followed by weight regain, results in accumulation of fat in the body and lower metabolic rate, thus hindering subsequent attempts to lose weight. We evaluated the effects of weight-cycling on body weight and body mass index (BMI), body composition including fat mass (FM) and lean body mass (LBM), and resting metabolic rate (RMR), by systematically reviewing existing scientific literature. Recent Findings: Twenty-three cross-sectional and cohort studies (including subjects with a history of weight-cycling compared to those without such history) and interventional studies (evaluating physiological effects during one or more cycles of weight loss and regain) were identified, conducted in generally healthy adults across various age groups, races, and both genders, who had normal weight, overweight, or obesity. Eighteen studies investigated the association between weight-cycling and body weight or BMI, and thirteen of them found no significant association. Fifteen out of twenty studies also found no increase in FM, and none of eighteen studies found a decrease in LBM. Twelve out of fourteen studies reported no adverse changes in RMR either. Summary: The overwhelming majority of evidence suggests that weight-cycling (yo-yo effect) is not associated with any adverse effects in body weight, body composition, and metabolic rate. Accordingly, healthy individuals who struggle with overweight or obesity should not be discouraged from repeated attempts to lose the excess weight.

KW - Adiposity

KW - Body composition

KW - Fat mass

KW - Lean body mass

KW - Resting metabolic rate

KW - Weight-cycling

KW - Yo-yo dieting

KW - Yo-yo effect

U2 - 10.1007/s13679-023-00539-8

DO - 10.1007/s13679-023-00539-8

M3 - Review

C2 - 38172475

AN - SCOPUS:85181253138

VL - 13

SP - 35

EP - 50

JO - Current Obesity Reports

JF - Current Obesity Reports

SN - 2162-4968

ER -