Active Low-Carber Forums
Atkins diet and low carb discussion provided free for information only, not as medical advice.
Home Plans Tips Recipes Tools Stories Studies Products
Active Low-Carber Forums
A sugar-free zone


Welcome to the Active Low-Carber Forums.
Support for Atkins diet, Protein Power, Neanderthin (Paleo Diet), CAD/CALP, Dr. Bernstein Diabetes Solution and any other healthy low-carb diet or plan, all are welcome in our lowcarb community. Forget starvation and fad diets -- join the healthy eating crowd! You may register by clicking here, it's free!

Go Back   Active Low-Carber Forums > Main Low-Carb Diets Forums & Support > Low-Carb Studies & Research / Media Watch > LC Research/Media
User Name
Password
FAQ Members Calendar Mark Forums Read Search Gallery My P.L.A.N. Survey


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   ^
Old Tue, Jun-08-04, 17:17
mps's Avatar
mps mps is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 392
 
Plan: NHE/UD2/General LC
Stats: 175/175/175 Male 6'
BF:10/6/?
Progress:
Location: Michigan
Default Yo-Yo dieting: bad for immune system...

http://www.cnn.com/2004/HEALTH/diet...y.ap/index.html

Study: Yo-yo weight loss harms immune system
Wednesday, June 2, 2004 Posted: 1:36 PM EDT (1736 GMT)

HEALTH LIBRARY
SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- A new study has found that "yo-yo dieting" -- repeatedly losing, then regaining weight -- may harm a woman's immune system.

The study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center also found that maintaining the same weight over time appears to have a positive effect on a woman's immune system, according to one of the lead researchers.

Researchers in the study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, interviewed 114 overweight but otherwise healthy sedentary, older women about their weight-loss history during the past 20 years. The women had to have maintained a stable weight for at least three months before joining the study, which was funded by the National Cancer Institute.

The study, which found that long-term immune function decreases in proportion to how many times a woman has intentionally lost weight, measured natural killer cell activity in the women's blood. Natural killer cells are an essential part of the immune system, killing viruses and leukemia cells, said Cornelia Ulrich, senior author and an assistant member of the Hutchinson Center's Public Health Sciences Division.

Low natural killer cell activity has been associated with increased cancer rates and a higher susceptibility to colds and infections, she said.

"While one weight-loss episode of 10 pounds or more in the previous 20 years was not associated with current natural killer cell activity, more frequent weight-loss episodes" were associated with a significant decrease in such activity, Ulrich said.

The study found that women who maintained a fairly stable weight over several years had higher levels of such cells than those whose weight frequently fluctuated.

Those who reported losing weight more than five times had about a third lower natural killer cell function, the study found. Conversely, women who maintained the same weight for at least five years had 40 percent greater natural killer cell activity as compared to those who maintained their weight for fewer than two years.

Advice: Avoid fad diets

Though no men participated in the study and further research is needed, Ulrich said the immune systems of male dieters would likely be affected the same way.

The findings, while intriguing, are preliminary, cautioned Ulrich, who is also a research assistant professor in epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine.


...We registered dietitians are urging people not to do the fad diets, and just try small changes that they're more likely to be able to live with -- even if the weight loss is slower.

-- Katherine Tallmadge, American Dietetic Association



Researchers had to rely on the participants' own reports of their weight loss histories and the analysis was based on blood samples collected at a single point in time, representing a narrow sample.

A long-term study could provide more conclusive results, said Ulrich, who is planning to collaborate with Canadian researchers who have been working on a similar study.

Although the study suggests that yo-yo dieting is harmful, Ulrich stopped short of saying that people should stop attempting to lose weight.

"There's clearly evidence that weight loss is beneficial for your health," she said. "What we're concerned about is this pattern of weight cycling where women go up and down."

Exercise has been shown to boost immunity and temper some of the negative effects of weight loss on the immune system, Ulrich said.

Despite its preliminary nature, the study is significant, said Katherine Tallmadge, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association in Washington, D.C. Although dietitians have known for years the negative psychological effects of yo-yo dieting, this appears to be the first study to examine the long-term impact of such dieting on immunity, she said.

People should avoid popular low-carb and low-fat diets that can produce initial weight loss but rarely work in the long term, Tallmadge said.

"Study after study shows that more moderate restrictions are more likely to last permanently," Tallmadge said. "That's why we registered dietitians are urging people not to do the fad diets, and just try small changes that they're more likely to be able to live with -- even if the weight loss is slower."
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2   ^
Old Tue, Jun-08-04, 17:20
mps's Avatar
mps mps is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 392
 
Plan: NHE/UD2/General LC
Stats: 175/175/175 Male 6'
BF:10/6/?
Progress:
Location: Michigan
Default

Again with the suggestion that low carb diets are bad. This time because they say one can not stick with it long term. Interesting that low fat diets are called 'fad' also.
Reply With Quote
  #3   ^
Old Tue, Jun-08-04, 18:12
Dodger's Avatar
Dodger Dodger is offline
Posts: 8,757
 
Plan: Paleoish/Keto
Stats: 225/167/175 Male 71.5 inches
BF:18%
Progress: 116%
Location: Longmont, Colorado
Default

The American Dietetic Association seems to not communicate well. I went on their web site to find out what their dietary recommendations are. I found lots of general motherhood and apple pie statements, but almost nothing of practical use.

On their 'Health Weight, Health You' page was "The key is to achieve and maintain your realistic healthy weight through proper food choices and regular physical activity. By making changes in your habits--including eating and physical activity--you can help achieve long-term health and lifelong weight management. "

Nowhere could I find what proper food choices are. Although at the bottom was:
For more information
  • The American Dietetic Association/National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics Consumer Nutrition Hotline
    For food and nutrition information or for a referral to a registered dietitian in your area, call 800/366-1655.
  • Order a copy of ADA's The Healthy Weigh: A Practical Food Guide. This weight control booklet includes 62 recipes and a week of menu ideas. Catalog no. 0808, $6.25 each plus $5.00 shipping and handling. Call 800/877-1600 ext 5000, weekdays 8:30am-4:45pm CST.
I guess I have to pay them $11.25 to find out what to eat, or pay a registerd dietitian to tell me.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
"Atkins diet slims Unilever sales: Change in U.S. dieting habits hurt..." gotbeer LC Research/Media 13 Mon, Jan-08-07 12:04
'Yo-yo diets hit immune system' Demi LC Research/Media 3 Thu, Jun-03-04 15:32
Health care system serves moneyed interests Angeline LC Research/Media 1 Tue, Apr-06-04 19:01
Current and Potential Drugs for Treatment of Obesity-Endocrine Reviews Voyajer LC Research/Media 0 Mon, Jul-15-02 18:57
moms & daughters & dieting doreen T LC Research/Media 1 Thu, Nov-02-00 19:50


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:07.


Copyright © 2000-2024 Active Low-Carber Forums @ forum.lowcarber.org
Powered by: vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.