Study states 'yo-yo dieting' can cause severe health problems
| Oct 3, 2018, 16:27 IST
The 'yo-yo' diet, also known as weight cycling, is a term coined by Kelly D. Brownell at Yale University, in reference to the cyclical loss and gain of weight, resembling the up-down motion of a yo-yo. A new research published in the journal Circulation has found that frequent fluctuations in weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels could lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
When compared with people who had stable measurements for over five years, people with the 'yo-yo' effect were found to be 127 percent more likely to die, 43 percent more likely to have a heart attack and 41 percent more likely to have a stroke. The researchers found that high variability was closely linked to a significantly higher risk of death.
The study’s senior author, Seung-Hwan Lee, said, "Healthcare providers should pay attention to the variability in measurements of a patient’s blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels as well as body weight. Trying to stabilise these measurements may be an important step in helping them improve their health." "It is not certain whether these results from Korea would apply to the United States. However, several previous studies on variability were performed in other populations, suggesting that it is likely to be a common phenomenon," Lee said.
When compared with people who had stable measurements for over five years, people with the 'yo-yo' effect were found to be 127 percent more likely to die, 43 percent more likely to have a heart attack and 41 percent more likely to have a stroke. The researchers found that high variability was closely linked to a significantly higher risk of death.
The study’s senior author, Seung-Hwan Lee, said, "Healthcare providers should pay attention to the variability in measurements of a patient’s blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels as well as body weight. Trying to stabilise these measurements may be an important step in helping them improve their health." "It is not certain whether these results from Korea would apply to the United States. However, several previous studies on variability were performed in other populations, suggesting that it is likely to be a common phenomenon," Lee said.
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