Cravings and Yo-Yo Dieting
By Stephen Todd
Yo-yo dieting, also referred to as "weight
cycling," is when cravings overpower any positive
effects that a dieter has received by following
whatever program allowed them to lose weight.
You usually hear cravings and yo-yo dieting
mentioned when a person loses a certain amount
of weight, gains it back, and then loses it
again, feeding into a vicious cycle of dieting
ups and downs.
The cravings that come with yo-yo
dieting can be quite a physically, as
well as emotionally draining process.
Unhealthy Practices
There have been studies done on people
who feed into the cravings and yo-yo diet,
determining that these repeated cycles
of weight loss and weight gain is an unhealthy
practice. It results in the weakening
of the body, as well as decrease in the
functionality and strength of the body’s
major organs, immune system and overall
health of the individual.
Looking for a quick solution to a weight
problem is more likely to end in diet
failure - these quick fixes come in many
forms.
When people starve themselves in order
to lose weight, they are more likely to
give into craving and yo-yo dieting.
Fad Diets
Another way cravings and yo-yo dieting
come into play, is when a dieter chooses
to follow a fad diet. Some of these diets
involve eating one particular type of
food group, such as grapefruits or cabbage
soup, as well as eliminating major elements
from a diet, such as avoiding carbs. The
weight soon returns when the dieter abandons
whatever strict regimen they were following,
giving into cravings and yo-yo dieting
patterns.
Depression and fatigue are factors that
also contribute to the failure of a diet
not based on healthy eating habits accompanied
by regular exercise.
Once the weight creeps back, the dieter
then resorts back to the quick fix for
help. This pattern continues until the
dieter has decided to follow a sensible
diet and exercise plan, leaving behind
the cravings and yo-yo dieting.
Lifelong Diet Plan
Dieters must learn how to commit to a
lifelong plan to losing and maintaining
their weight through healthy means. If
a person is unwilling to make this sacrifice
of watching what they eat, then they are
more likely to fall victim to cravings
and yo-yo dieting.
Giving into cravings and practicing yo-yo
dieting can lead to detrimental effects
on the overall health of an individual.
Cholesterol
A study published in the Journal of American
College of Cardiology stated that yo-yo
dieters displayed low levels of the "good"
cholesterol that prevents heart disease.
It was also shown that women who had succumbed
to their cravings and yo-yo dieted had
the worst results. This was the case in
women who had lost and regained at least
50 pounds.
Other complications arising from yo-yo
dieting include the increased risk of
developing gallstones, as well as a slight
increase in a patient’s blood pressure.
Obesity
Even though the issues surrounding cravings
and yo-yo dieting are disadvantageous
to a person’s health, it is not worse
than being an obese individual. Obesity
increases a person’s risk for stroke,
heart disease, diabetes, as well as cancer.
More dieting and general health information
and FREE exclusive diet and health magazines,
are available on our web site: http://www.net-planet.org
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