Why It's So Hard to Keep It Off

By Editorial Staff

The weight, that is. While weight loss can be a struggle for many people, maintaining weight loss is a universal challenge. In fact, in a research analysis of 29 studies on weight loss maintenance, subjects regained more than half of lost weight within two years and 80% did so within five years.

One clue to understanding why it's so hard comes from a new study that suggests the brain responds differently to the presence of food in the stomach if you're obese – even if you eventually lose weight. Specifically, obese people experience reduced activity in areas of the brain that normally signal someone that they've eaten and should stop eating. In the absence of those signals, overeating is the obvious result.

The study compared two groups: those with a healthy body weight and those considered obese. Losing weight did not appear to correct the problem; according to the researchers, "Importantly, the impaired neuronal responses are not restored after diet-induced weight loss." Findings appear in a recent issue of Nature Metabolism.

So, what's the solution? How can people lose weight – and keep it off long term, if these blunted signals exist – and can't be "fixed" even after weight loss? Step #1 is recognizing the reality: It's hard to keep weight off, and this is a big reason why. Step #2: In light of #1, recognizing that meal planning / portion sizing is incredibly significant if you're obese or have ever been obese.

Your brain won't tell you to stop eating (at least not as well as if you'd never had a weight challenge), so you need to create circumstances that dictate when to stop – based on what's considered a healthy amount of food to lose weight or maintain that weight loss, depending on your individual circumstance. Your doctor can tell you more about how to design an effective, sensible plan to help you achieve long-term weight loss.