Obesity research confirms long-term weight loss almost impossible
 

Obesity research confirms long-term weight loss almost impossible
No known cure for obesity except surgically shrinking the stomach

There's a disturbing truth that is emerging from the science of obesity. After years of study, it's becoming apparent that it's nearly impossible to permanently lose weight.

As incredible as it sounds, that's what the evidence is showing. For psychologist Traci Mann, who has spent 20 years running an eating lab at the University of Minnesota, the evidence is clear. "It couldn't be easier to see," she says. "Long-term weight loss happens to only the smallest minority of people."

We all think we know someone in that rare group. They become the legends ? the friend of a friend, the brother-in-law, the neighbour ? the ones who really did it.

But if we check back after five or 10 years, there's a good chance they will have put the weight back on. Only about five per cent of people who try to lose weight ultimately succeed, according to the research. Those people are the outliers, but we cling to their stories as proof that losing weight is possible.

"Those kinds of stories really keep the myth alive," says University of Alberta professor Tim Caulfield, who researches and writes about health misconceptions. "You have this confirmation bias going on where people point to these very specific examples as if it's proof. But in fact those are really exceptions."

Our biology taunts us, by making short-term weight loss fairly easy. But the weight creeps back, usually after about a year, and it keeps coming back until the original weight is regained or worse.

This has been tested in randomized controlled trials where people have been separated into groups and given intense exercise and nutrition counselling.

Even in those highly controlled experimental settings, the results show only minor sustained weight loss.

When Traci Mann analyzed all of the randomized control trials on long-term weight loss, she discovered that after two years the average amount lost was only one kilogram, or about two pounds, from the original weight.

Tiptoeing around the truth

So if most scientists know that we can't eat ourselves thin, that the lost weight will ultimately bounce back, why don't they say so?

Tim Caulfield says his fellow obesity academics tend to tiptoe around the truth. "You go to these meetings and you talk to researchers, you get a sense there is almost a political correctness around it, that we don't want this message to get out there," he said.

"You'll be in a room with very knowledgeable individuals, and everyone in the room will know what the data says and still the message doesn't seem to get out."

In part, that's because it's such a harsh message. "You have to be careful about the stigmatizing nature of that kind of image," Caulfield says. "That's one of the reasons why this myth of weight loss lives on."

Health experts are also afraid people will abandon all efforts to exercise and eat a nutritious diet ? behaviour that is important for health and longevity ? even if it doesn't result in much weight loss.

Traci Mann says the emphasis should be on measuring health, not weight. "You should still eat right, you should still exercise, doing healthy stuff is still healthy," she said. "It just doesn't make you thin."

We are biological machines

But eating right to improve health alone isn't a strong motivator. The research shows that most people are willing to exercise and limit caloric intake if it means they will look better. But if they find out their weight probably won't change much, they tend to lose motivation.

That raises another troubling question. If diets don't result in weight loss, what does? At this point the grim answer seems to be that there is no known cure for obesity, except perhaps surgically shrinking the stomach.

Research suggests bariatric surgery can induce weight loss in the extremely obese, improving health and quality of life at the same time. But most people will still be obese after the surgery. Plus, there are risky side effects, and many will end up gaining some of that weight back.

If you listen closely you will notice that obesity specialists are quietly adjusting the message through a subtle change in language.

These days they're talking about weight maintenance or "weight management" rather than "weight loss."

It's a shift in emphasis that reflects the emerging reality. Just last week the headlines announced the world is fatter than it has ever been, with 2.1 billion people now overweight or obese, based on an analysis published in the online issue of the British medical journal The Lancet.

Researchers are divided about why weight gain seems to be irreversible, probably a combination of biological and social forces. "The fundamental reason," Caulfield says, "is that we are very efficient biological machines. We evolved not to lose weight. We evolved to keep on as much weight as we possibly can."

Lost in all of the noise about dieting and obesity is the difficult concept of prevention, of not putting weight on in the first place.

The Lancet study warned that more than one in five kids in developed countries are now overweight or obese. Statistics Canada says close to a third of Canadian kids under 17 are overweight or obese. And in a world flooded with food, with enormous economic interest in keeping people eating that food, what is required to turn this ship around is daunting.

"An appropriate rebalancing of the primal needs of humans with food availability is essential," University of Oxford epidemiologist Klim McPherson wrote in a Lancet commentary following last week's study. But to do that, he suggested, "would entail curtailing many aspects of production and marketing for food industries."

Perhaps, though, the emerging scientific reality should also be made clear, so we can navigate this obesogenic world armed with the stark truth ? that we are held hostage to our biology, which is adapted to gain weight, an old evolutionary advantage that has become a dangerous metabolic liability.


http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/obesit...ible-1.2663585

Threads like this make me grateful for being raised by health conscious parents. The obesity epidemic sweeping the nation is horrible. Thanks to high fructose corn syrup and the "food-like" products that we are exposed to every day.

Why people are crying out about "permanent" weight loss is beyond me. Let's see, you're fat, you diet and exercise and lose the weight. Great. Then if you go back to your old ways and eat crap and cut back on the activity you're going to gain weight again. What's the problem? Is the problem that your plan wasn't 'permanent', or is the problem that you couldn't stick to the plan?


I know exactly how to eat to lose weight. I posted how in another thread today, and it works. I'm living proof, as I'm over 25 lbs lighter a year after changing my eating habits. My back trouble won't allow me much exercise these days so I had to find another way to stay lean. I found it, it works, and thus it is inarguable.*

*so of course some here will argue with me about it. :D

It's insane. If you go to a normal grocery store something like 80% of the products have HFCS. Hell they are even replacing cheese now with imitation cheese made out of some soy product. And if you want real juice you have to be careful because most of the juice products have only 0-15% juice. Where they have juice it's usually apple juice (because it's cheapest) mixed in with some artificial flavoring and not the actual juice the box says (such as strawberry).

We're all being fed shit basically.

1 year is about the mark where they said statistically it starts coming back with most people. Let's see if you make it another year. I hope you do.

Also I think I heard that it has something to do with metabolism changes as well where your body adjusts and you start getting fat again. It's not always because a person is eating crap again and sitting on the couch. It seems to some extent the body wants to gain the weight back again after having it for so long?

YUP! this is why the majority of my diet is grass fed turkey/chicken, long grain basmati rice, and egg whites. Anything that comes in a colorful box, processed, or didnt make myself i will not eat. The only time I will eat out at a restaurant is if its sushi/sashimi or a steak house...a REAL steak house, not outback style. You are what you eat, and what you put into your body will show especially over the course of time. Feels great being almost 30 and looking/feeling better than 99% of the population. Not only does it set you apart from the rest you get recognition for it. Its a great mood booster :thumbsup

A couple of things. There is a big difference between needing to lose 25, 30 or even 50 pounds and needing to lose 150+ pounds. Also, for many people who are very overweight there is a lot more behind it than just learning how to eat correctly. Most people who have serious weight issues also have other problems and eating is the way they deal with them.

Some people smoke, some drink, some do drugs, some eat, it is often a symptom of a greater issue. So when a person loses weight on their own, but they don't deal with those issues those issues eventually show back up and they fall back into their old patterns because eating is how they deal with it.

No reason why I shouldn't. I've adopted these eating habits and techniques permanently. That's the "permanent" part of it, the sticking with the plan. Not this magical permanence that the rest of the overweigth universe seems to be looking for.

It has everything to do with metabolism, which is why what I'm doing works. It's not all about changing what you eat, although that's part of it. It IS however a lot about changing HOW you eat, as in the frequency. That's the part that over time will adjust a person's metabolic rate.

Trust me, I eat my share of stuff most people would say is "fattening". I eat big feeds of ribs, steaks, have barbecues & fish fry's, pizza, fried chicken, etc. I eat a big breakfast of eggs and sausages or bacon, plus fried hashbrowns and toast about twice per week. But it's the way I eat throughout the late morning and afternoons that has my metabolism turned from storing fat to burning fat. I no longer eat lunch per se, but instead graze on healthier snacks and smaller meals all through the day. I don't eat late at night, I drink enough water throughout the day, and with all that 'grazing' I don't often feel hungry late at night anyway.

There's no other way I can say it any plainer... it works.

I'm one of those people Kane. While I was never that overweight I do have some serious health issues, and the deterioration in my back is a lifelong sentence for me that is now curtailing a lot of exercise activities that I used to take for granted. I know full well what you're trying to say, but you're not entirely correct. But what I'm saying is very much a choice and a commitment, no question, and not everyone has that kind of commitment in them, but they do have a choice.

They just have to make it. Or else wait for that magic pill to be invented that rids them of their excess tonnage. OR... have their insides mutilated, get their stomach stapled or what have you. I have a couple of cousins in the states that had that done. It worked, but I know others that had it done and later gained weight even with the smaller stomach.... because their stomachs stretched even further. lol

See above for most of that. As for smoking etc, all that takes a commitment to oneself as well. That still doesn't negate the fact that what I'm saying works. Of course it will only work for someone who is truly fed up with being a fat out-of-breath smoker who drinks a lot and wants to change once and for all.

Hey, I had to give up a good 95% of the booze as well. I'll still take a drink now and again or a glass of wine at dinner, but I keep a limit on it. Don't think for a second that I'm chirping on here but didn't have to make any personal changes and sacrifices of my own. If you think that you'd be way wrong.

After being gone from the US for 7 months and having lost 60+ pounds I can see I was addicted to sugar. I continue the same exercise regime as I have had for last 3-4 years because I like the outdoors. And i continue to lose 6-8 pounds per month. Doctors in the US "struggled" for many years to help me get blood pressure under control. My current doctor, after reviewing the meds I was being given said flat out, "these do not work. Doctors should know this." His experience comes from working as a doctor in Germany and now in Japan. My BP is now normal if not a bit lower than most westerners.

Americans, north, central and south are being fed poison at the pleasure of government and big business. Government is big business. Its a capitalist society. More money is made by treating rather than fixing. It is cheaper and more cost effective to provide the lowest common denominator at the highest price possible.

Remove sugar, in all its forms, from your diet and stay active. The same companies making your food are invested in "health care."

My aunt had that surgery and it was the worst thing she has ever done.She had serious complications that caused her to be laid up for about 9 months after it was done. She lost her job and nearly lost everything she had. A year and a half after the surgery she had lost a lot of weight (about 150 pounds), but now, about 6 years later, she has gained almost all of it back. Like you said, even the small stomach can stretch back out and many people just go back to the same habits that they had before.

I'm not belittling your situation by any means. We all have our struggles and it sounds like you have had plenty. I am just saying, it is much harder for someone who needs to lose 100 pounds to do it and keep it off than someone who needs to lose 25.

Also, like you said, it is a choice. You just have to chose to want to do it and will yourself to do it. Many people, however, have mental issues surrounding their weight that can sabotage those choices. For people like that they need mental help along with the physical/nutritional help so they can make the proper choices.

Look at it kind of like an addiction. If a person is a drug addict they will have things/situations that trigger them and make them crave the drugs and want to use. Addiction recovery teaches them how to recognize those triggers, avoid them, and deal with them when they do come up. Food can be the same way. People eat poorly for a lot of different reasons. They need to figure out why that it is and deal with the root cause of it to help make those choices of eating correctly easier.

One of the major hurdles is that here in the US it seems like everything has sugar in it. Sure, you can get fresh veggies and meats and be fine, but if it comes in a bottle, box or wrapper there is a decent chance it has sugar in it. It is crazy. Like you, I cut sugar from my diet about 9 months ago. The sheer volume of things I have cut out because of their sugar content is crazy.

I think most people gain back the weight because they haven't learned to eat properly. They just put themselves on a restricted diet until they reached their goal. Once they hit that magic number, they went right back to their old habits. The problem here is education from childhood about proper healthy foods, not about "dieting doesn't work." Dieting does work for what it does, but after the diet, you need a skinny lifestyle if you want to keep a skinny body!

It's hard to make the first change, but it's not hard once it's a habit to not buy food that is pre-processed. Buy staples and ingredients and put them together.

I haven't even bought salad dressings for a year because I just pour some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a sprinkle of sugar, a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and some dried basil into a jar and shake it up. Add dijon mustard and honey instead of the balsamic for a change. :) Seriously, it's way cheaper, healthier, and super easy. And fewer jars to clutter the fridge door! :)

Remember the one where the smoker says "Quitting is easy, I've done it dozens of times"?

Well here's one from me :

Losing weight is easy, Iv'e done it dozens of times.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh





.

Yes indeed, it's one of those things that seems to work great for some, and creates a whole new horrible mess for others. Also, a surgical fix of any type is only going to get someone so far, they STILL have to change the way they eat and the way they live. If they're unwilling to do their part by way of mainenance they will absolutely slide back into obesity which is one of those rare problems where when you gain, you lose. :D

Yes and not. I'm agreeing that it can be, but it doesn't HAVE to be, if that makes sense. I'm saying anyone who makes the necesary changes I'm talking about can eat themselves thinner, over time. And there's the difference between 100 lbs and 30 lbs. Time. It takes longer to lose the weight, not harder. Barring a few adjustments here or there the basic plan is the same no matter how big one is.

I never said otherwise. I also never mentioned my own struggles with depression over the past dozen or more years, which I've had my share of. If one needs help with "mental issues" then they should be seeing someone about it. This still does not negate the fact that what I'm advocating works.

You're really starting to sound like an enabler and and excuse-maker my friend. :D

Look, I'm not saying there aren't a lot of different types of people, some weaker or more dependant or desponent than others etc. All I'm saying is that if certain changes to one's eating habits are made you will in fact lose weight. That's all. The rest is up to each person to make the commitment to themselves to do it. I've finally after a lot of years struggling with a bunch of things have made that commitment. And guess what? It's working.

I decided I no longer give a **** about urges or triggers etc. I decided that *I* am the one in charge of myself, not these urges everyone talks about. And... if you (as in anyone) follows the plan daily (and it's not a rigorous plan either, in fact you end up eating more frequently) and sticks to it for life you (as in anyone) will A) lose weight at a healthy rate, and B) keep that weight off.

Now if you don't mind I have some raw baby carrots and grapes to munch down as my pre-dinner snack...

Cha ching, we have a winner.:thumbsup

I used to believe all of that until I dated a couple of Japanese females.
They ate everything that moved and twice as much as you.
Drank like fish too and never gained a pound.

Sorry, but no way is this all about diet and exercise or these chicks would have weighed 300 pounds instead of 105 pounds.

This is total bullshit propaganda encouraged by delusional fatties who are part of what is called the Fat Acceptance movement. They push some dangerous nonsense called "Healthy At Any Size". It's just an excuse for lazy fatsos to not do anything about their obesity since according to them, it's futile anyway.

These nincompoops actually try to lecture doctors who advise them to lose weight by pulling some ridiculous studies out of their ass that supposedly prove that there is nothing inherently unhealthy about being over a certain size or weight despite all the common sense and scientific evidence to the contrary.

My brother is like this. He can eat anything he wants and never gain a pound. If he eats a bunch of junk food he will actually lose weight because his body thinks it is being starved! It's crazy.

For some genetics plays a big role in it.

http://versatilehealth.com/wp-conten...ing-doctor.png

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/c5/c506...5b4c20a9ff.jpg

:stoned

ADG

In a round about way I think you kind of prove my point. You finally got to a place where your desire to be healthy and lose weight overtook your urges and triggers and you were able to conquer them and make long term changes in your life.

All I am saying is that if a person is 200 pounds overweight there is likely a bigger story to it than just the fact that they eat poorly. If they don't deal with those non-food problems they will never be able to fix their food problems.

Mutt is your avatar Gretchen Wieners? :offtopic

just put me on island without food, only 1 fish per day :D

As of this morning.... I've lost ten pounds in the past two months.

I said the exact thing when I was thirty too.

The reason it doesn't work is the same reason you can't take a 40 year old moron and turn him into a genius. It takes willpower and self discipline to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Most people don't have it. Teaching it is almost impossible. People 100 years ago didn't have willpower or self discipline either. They weighed less because there was no McDonalds or Dunkin donuts next door. All the food wasn't saturated with sugar. Today you have to very carefully with what you buy. They sneak sugar into everything to get you addicted. Your willpower is constantly tested. Willpower is basically a finite resource, eventually you will break. 100 years ago you worked on a farm, working out today is optional. You have to goto the gym.

Good for you, Roc!

There are exceptions to every rule. I could eat whatever I wanted when I was 20, too. Half a pizza here, foot long subway sandwich there, slurpees everywhere. Still had a waist! If I tried that now I'd be 150lbs in a year. :)

When I was in high school (mid 1980's) we had a closed campus and even if we didn't there was nowhere to go for food other than a grocery store that was about a 2 miles away. We either had to bring our lunch or eat at the cafeteria which wasn't great, but was somewhat balanced.

These days schools have contracts with soda companies and food companies. The high school in my town has a McDonalds, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen and Burgerville all, literally, right across the street. When it is lunch time you know where all those kids are going to eat.

Our brains evolved in a time when food was more scarce and the supply was unpredictable, your brain wants you to eat and put on weight in case there's a famine. Once you put on weight the brain records a new 'set point', when you deliberately lose weight with less food intake and more exercise your brain is not happy, it thinks it's being starved.

Here's just one piece of research about what happens in the brain when you diet - neurons in the brain freak out and start eating themselves, a process called autophagy which triggers hunger signals to get you to eat.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0802125546.htm

Not impossible to lose and keep weight off but the odds are against you and it's not all just will power. And it gets harder as you age, metabolism slows down with age.

The aim should be obesity prevention, this childhood obesity epidemic is sad and preventable but parenting, lifestyle and technology being what they are it's not going to get better. College age is another high risk period, it's usually the first time for most people that they put on extra weight, was for me - junk food starchy diet, beer and alcohol and less physically active than they were as teenagers.

Let's not forget that there are people who through no fault of their own are obese, there were always one or two 'fat kids' in every class in elementary school, genetically screwed just the same as there were kids who looked unhealthily thin who no matter what they do and eat can't put on weight.

Like the article says, we are more biological machines than anything else.

I had a nutritionist tell me that for as amazing as our brains and bodies are, they are also pretty dumb in some areas. When it comes to food, your body has no reference of time. It is like a dog. Your dog greets you the same whether you have been gone 30 minutes or 30 hours. If you are hungry for more than about 30 minutes your body starts to go into starvation mode because it has decided to that you are never gong to eat again so it has to conserve. This is why so many people tell you to eat a bunch of small meals throughout the day so you don't have these issues. Add to it that the more weight you lose the more your body tries to prevent that from happening and it is like walking up the down escalator.

So what University did the study ? thought soo

stop eating processed foods. that's the main thing you have to do, i think. i was never fat but i wanted to start eating better, i stopped eating breakfast cereals and started eating oatmeal everyday instead, stopped eating leftovers for lunch and started eating salad...everyday instead. i stopped eating sugary snacks and night and started eating fruit...everyday instead. just by doing this i lost 15 pounds and i wasn't even trying or intending to. this is a lifestyle change, i can't and won't go back to eating like that. the odd time when i do, it makes me feel like shit afterwards. its probably much harder if you are fat to start with, if your parents are fat.

STFU, I'm the one who dated them, not you.

They didn't do shit for exercise and they ate at McDonalds which doesn't sell sushi.
Stop making up shit about people I actually lived with to make your incorrect point.

:2 cents:

Get off your fat lazy ugly ass and go to the GYM! LOL

I love a good don't even try because you're doomed to fail research study.

It's much easier if you never create those extra fat cells in the first place.

It all starts in adolescence!