Dieting to achieve weight loss can often feel like a challenging and discouraging journey. Many individuals who count calories, eliminate carbs, or practice intermittent fasting find that the pounds seem to return over time. So, what’s the benefit of all this effort? Recent research published in BMC Medicine offers a new perspective, suggesting that the cycle of yo-yo dieting may actually have some unexpected benefits.
A team of researchers from Ben-Gurion University in Israel conducted comprehensive follow-up studies over five and ten years on participants from two consecutive trials. These trials compared interventions based on the Mediterranean diet and increased physical activity with standard control diets, complete with detailed before-and-after MRI scans.
Interestingly, even though participants entered the second trial at similar weights as the first, indicating no significant long-term weight loss, they exhibited noteworthy internal health improvements. Their abdominal fat profiles and metabolic markers showed enhancements of 15 to 25 percent, improved insulin sensitivity, and more favorable lipid panels.
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Furthermore, the long-term health outcomes were promising. Participants who took part in both trials showed less weight gain and reduced abdominal fat during five-year follow-ups compared to those who only participated in one trial.
“Body weight alone does not capture changes in visceral fat or metabolic biomarkers,” noted study author Hadar Klein in a statement. “Even when weight is regained, cardiometabolic health may remain improved. Success should not solely be defined by the scale. Even if weight loss appears to stagnate in subsequent attempts, the cumulative benefits for abdominal fat and metabolic health can be significant.”
Therefore, there is no need to despair—yo-yo dieting might be yielding benefits, even if it does not immediately result in a leaner figure. Ultimately, what truly matters is the health we foster within.
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