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tamarian
Thu, Nov-02-00, 11:03
Thursday November 2, 5:01 am Eastern Time
Press Release
SOURCE: Public Information Committee for the ASNS/ASCN
Being Overweight or Obese is Not Destiny -- According to Research Highlighted by the Public Information Committee of the American Society of Nutritional Sciences and the American Society of Clinical Nutrition (ASNS/ASCN)
BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- For many overweight people who lose weight, gaining it back is often a matter of time. Their cyclical weight gain-loss pattern leaves them feeling as though being ``fat'' is their destiny.

This cyclical weight gain-loss pattern has led some researchers to believe that the human body has a pre-set weight range and will automatically adjust its metabolic rate (the rate at which the body burns calories) to maintain a weight within its natural range. However, recent evidence published in the November issue of the American Journal for Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) provides a different perspective.

In a study of 24 overweight women, researchers found that a low-calorie weight-reducing diet slowed metabolism, but, when these women stopped dieting (after losing almost 30 pounds), their metabolic rate increased and was comparable to that of women who were never overweight. On average, the women returned to their initial overweight level by the 4-year follow-up evaluation; however, variations in their resting metabolic rate did not predict the amount of weight they regained.

Says lead author Dr. Roland L. Weinsier, ``Confusion arises from the fact that our metabolic rate falls when we cut back on calories. This is nature's way of preventing starvation. But our results show that, after you lose weight and stop restricting calories, your metabolic rate returns to normal. Therefore, factors other than an abnormal metabolic rate must be responsible for the weight regain tendency.''

Other research published in AJCN (Schoeller D, et al. 1997;66:551-556. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/66/3/551) shows that increased activity after weight loss improves chances for maintaining a weight loss. More research is needed to understand the factors that lead to relapse after weight loss.


Website: http://www.faseb.org/ascn/press.htm
Website: http://www.ajcn.org

SOURCE: Public Information Committee for the ASNS/ASCN

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/001102/md_america.html

doreen T
Thu, Nov-02-00, 23:27
Originally posted by tamarian

``Confusion arises from the fact that our metabolic rate falls when we cut back on calories. This is nature's way of preventing starvation. But our results show that, after you lose weight and stop restricting calories, your metabolic rate returns to normal. Therefore, factors other than an abnormal metabolic rate must be responsible for the weight regain tendency.''

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Hi Wa'il,

This is rather encouraging news to a chronic dieter/gainer like me. It's really hard some days to not feel "why bother??" because I fear that after this struggle - and it IS a struggle - I'll just end up back where I was and then some 2 yrs from now. :( I did pay attention to the added note on increased exercise though, that is a good motivation for me to get moving MORE.

thanks, Doreen