Hormone levels may determine whether or not weight stays off after dieting

People who diet often wonder why they regain the weight that was lost from their weight loss efforts. A recent study conducted by the University Hospital Complex of Santiago may just provide an explanation for this phenomenon. They call it the “yo-yo effect.”

Researchers believe the appetite hormones, leptin and ghrelin, are the key aspects of this process. The scientists found that the levels of these hormones in the body may determine weight gain after dieting. Lead author Ana Belen Crujeiras explained that an individual’s response to diet differs since the result of their efforts depend on their own distinctive biological make-up.

It was determined by the scientists that higher levels of leptin and lower levels of ghrelin in the body are responsible for the weight gain after dieting. This finding was established by the researchers after evaluating 104 obese people who had undergone a recent low-calorie diet during an 8-week period.

Currently, overweight or obese people account for up to one-third of adults in the U.S., as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With this statistic, nutritionists should seriously consider this knowledge when designing personalized weight loss programs for patients.

This study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology, hopes to provide adequate understanding for nutrition professionals in treating patients for obesity.