| There's some intriguing new research out of | | | | Weight cycling, also known as yo-yo dieting, can |
| Boston University School of Medicine that | | | | be small (5-10 pounds) or large (50 pounds or |
| suggests for some, losing weight might be just as | | | | more) and has been linked with some serious |
| tough as kicking hard-core drug or alcohol | | | | health risks. |
| addiction. So how do you stop compulsive eating? | | | | Yo-yo dieting "a common habit of many chronic |
| Science is fascinated by overeating, due in part to | | | | dieters, generates dependence," explains Cottone, |
| its link to evolution. Once food was hard to come | | | | an assistant professor Boston University School |
| by, now nourishment is readily available, and this | | | | of Medicine. When someone who's used to |
| abundance is killing us through soaring rates of | | | | overeating suddenly stops, stress hormones in |
| diabetes and heart disease, not to mention the | | | | the brain become active. |
| risks to our health of obesity and overweight. | | | | This leads to "anxiety, decreased motivation and |
| Researchers are constantly looking for ways to | | | | rejection of other food alternatives." In other |
| help us avoid that extra weight, or at least explain | | | | words, you get nervous, lose your motivation for |
| why we can't seem to be rid of it. | | | | the diet and reject any healthy alternative you |
| In this latest study, a diet-cycled group of 155 | | | | encounter... the diet fails and you return to your |
| rats were fed a regular diet for five days before | | | | old patterns of eating. |
| being switched to a chocolate flavored food high | | | | What's worse, each attempt to stay away from |
| in sugar for two days. | | | | junk foods is going to be more painful and |
| To no one's surprise, this group of rats didn't | | | | stressful than the earlier one, which makes the |
| want to go back to their regular food after eating | | | | likelihood of relapse higher each time. |
| what was intended to be rat junk food, and | | | | There is a ray of hope in all this. The team found |
| refused it, exhibiting signs of anxiety. | | | | that they helped the rats do better by inhibiting a |
| Sound familiar? When the rats were allowed to go | | | | system in the brain that adds to stress. |
| back to the junk food, they overate, though their | | | | No one can say that any treatment for human |
| anxiety related behaviors returned to normal. | | | | obesity is around the corner, but the findings are |
| In fact, the rat brains acted as would be seen | | | | interesting. |
| during withdrawal from drugs or alcohol. | | | | And they offer hope for those who struggle with |
| Of course rat brains are not the same as human | | | | added weight and how to lose it... the endless |
| brains, and our neurology might work altogether | | | | cycle of losing and regaining... by promoting the |
| differently, but the researchers, including study | | | | idea that blaming yourself isn't the answer. |
| author Pietro Cottone, contend that the findings | | | | It's not a lack of willpower, but more likely a |
| suggest a link between so called yo-yo dieting and | | | | condition similar to drug addition that could be |
| cycles of addiction and withdrawal. | | | | making your efforts so difficult and fruitless. |
| He and his team believe that obesity and eating | | | | Finding help, and ready support, is your best hope |
| disorders should be seen as chronic conditions, | | | | of getting off the yo-yo diet bandwagon and |
| involving periods of abstinence (where sugar and | | | | taking control of your health. |
| fatty foods are "forbidden") and relapses that | | | | To avoid the risks of this type of weight loss and |
| involve compulsive, often out of control eating of | | | | gain, you'll need to adopt healthier eating habits |
| high calorie goodies. | | | | every day, and make it a point to engage in |
| If you're recognizing yourself, you're not alone. | | | | regular exercise so that you can stop compulsive |
| Breathe, and read on... | | | | eating and reach and maintain a healthy weight. |