In a fairly recent article, it states that dieting may not help to keep the weight off. The reason why you ask? Well, apparently there are nerves in the stomach that tells us when we're full, and a hormone, leptin, to encourage one to stop food intake; when continuous high-fat food consumption takes place, these nerves and hormones are desensitized. This means, those who are considered obese, even after losing weight, are 95% likely that they will gain the weight back within two years. Since this article only discusses obese people, it leaves out people are simply overweight. What does this mean for those persons? Good question.
One question I have is what if it is not desensitized nerves and hormones making people gain their weight back? Yes, this aids in people not being able to tell if they are full or not, but what about the saying "my eyes were bigger than my stomach"? People, who are trying to diet, should not depend on their body to say "I'm full," but notice their proportions and come to the conclusion that, what they are eating is enough to satisfy their hunger, not aim to get full.
But maybe that's just me. What do you all think about it?
Link to Article:
I'm pretty shocked at that 95%. That is absolutely ridiculous and seems incredibly sad for the obese people who have gone through the diet and the surgery and still, basically have no chance at keeping it off. Diet is a strong word. Every week and boyfriend and I commit our selves to a special food regimen, (my attempt at not saying diet). It only last three days, but at the end of the three days I totally feel like my stomach is smaller! And I've noticed that I get fuller with such smaller portions. I really hope that this desensitization isn't a foreseeable doom for the rest of us. It seems unfair, but that's just me.
ReplyDeleteSee, and that is what I was questioning at the end of my post. It only refers to those who are considered obese. What does this mean for people who are just overweight or at least think they are overweight. Is desensitizing occurring within them as well?
DeleteAs far as what the article outlines, I couldn't even begin to elaborate. But it is definitely unfair, I can concur with you there.
This is a very interesting article. It makes sense that diet alone won't help you lose weight(I've tried that). Even if you go on a diet if you are still eating the same amount of food, you might as well not be dieting at all. I wonder if there is something that exercise does to help with the desensitization of these nerves? Once I added excerise to my "diet" I was able to lose 85 pounds, and haven't put any of the weight back on for 3 years.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, congratulations for starters! Good for you, you are a part of the 5% of people who can actually keep the weight off.
DeleteBut that is a good question. I'm not sure exactly how exercising has a part in the desensitizing of the hormones and nerves. If anything, it might just be an increase in ones metabolism, thus burning more calories than before
That would make sense that it would be the nervous and watching how much you eat. When people get stomach surgery, does this help your nervous know you are fuller faster or is this just making the stomach smaller? I know stomach surgery makes it smaller but does the nervous realize the stomach is smaller?
ReplyDeleteGood question. I'm not sure if it changes with stomach size. It's possible, but I doubt it because, if dieting and exercising decreases the stomach on it's own but desensitization still over comes, why would surgery help?
DeleteDoes the stress of poor self-image weigh into the balance of health? Does dieting alleviate or exacerbate that stress?
ReplyDeleteI believe poor self image plays a major role in health. I say this because a lot of people refer to food for a sense of satisfaction, thus increasing weight issues and stress, rather than working out. Also, depending on the method of dieting, that might exacerbate the stress because of always having a sense of being hungry.
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