A Mechanism Behind the Yo-Yo Effect

 

The yo-yo effect in dieting is something that has been observed for a long time- someone tries to lose weight but gains it all back right after the diet. Recently, scientists have discovered a mechanism behind the yo-yo effect that could help explain why it occurs. By analyzing fat cells from overweight mice and of mice that lost weight through dieting, it was revealed that obesity leads to characteristic epigenetic changes in the nuclei of the fat cells. These changes were found to have remained even after the loss of weight, where the cells remember the overweight state and find it easier to return to it. The mice with those epigenetic markers were able to gain the weight back faster when they resumed a high fat diet. A similar study was carried out on humans and the results were found to be consistent with the mice study.

In my opinion, this is a study that has produced useful information. By discovering a mechanism for why the yo-yo effect occurs on the molecular level, we can better understand how and why it occurs in humans. We could perform more research on this topic in order to potentially develop strategies to prevent it from happening to people who are trying to lose weight and keep it off. This study could have many benefits for many of these people.

less body fat but higher blood pressure and pear shape

The University of Copenhagen conducted new research about people with the gene variation FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21). FGF21 hormone acts as insulin-sensitizing, meaning it improves the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin, this helps diabetics with lowering their insulin needs. Through the reseach it has been found that FGF21 hormone is linked to less body fat, higher blood pressure, and a more pear shaped body. People with this gene variation consume on average more sugar (they have a higher craving for sweets). This comes as a shock to the researchers due to a lot of information about how sugar is the cause for more fat storage in the body. More sugar more body fat. however with this gene variation it is shown that they eat more sugar and have less body fat. This is still only a small portion of the larger picture of sugar and obesity/diabetes' said Professor Niels Grarup from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research. The FGF21 may help in lower body fat then others who do not have it but it also increases the change of higher blood pressure and more fat pockets in the waist (creating a pear shaped body). They hope that with this new knowledge it will be important for the creation of drugs. This also will help with later studies.

References

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180411111013.htm

http://www.cell.com/cell-reports/fulltext