Yo-yo dieting can be worse for your health than being overweight
YO-YO dieting more than doubles the risk of dying prematurely. Seesawing weight can lead to blood pressure, cholesterol and blood-sugar levels that are even more dangerous than if someone remains overweight. A new study reveals that, in particular, heart attacks and strokes are more common among people who shed and then regain the pounds repeatedly. The research, which focused on seven million people, found that those whose weight repeatedly varied the most were two and a quarter times more likely to die early. They were 43 per cent more vulnerable to a heart attack and 41 per cent more vulnerable to a stroke.
Unhealthy
The study, the largest analysis of its kind, adds to a growing body of evidence about the dangers of yo-yo dieting. The findings are also likely to raise concerns about the influence of TV celebrities whose body sizes are often seen to fluctuate. Stars including comedian Dawn French, Loose Women star Coleen Nolan and actress Denise Welch have all seen their weight go up and down. And the abundance of celebrity fitness DVDs can also promote yo-yoing weight in those who do not keep adhering to such exercise routines over time. Professor Seung-Hwan Lee, who headed the study, said: “Healthcare providers should pay attention to the variability in 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.”
The definition of yo-yo dieting is gaining or losing more than 10lb on four separate occasions – regardless of the time span.
Tracy Parker, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This research can’t tell us exactly why yo-yo dieting is bad for us. However, previous research has already shown this type of dieting to be unhealthy among people with heart disease.
“There’s no question being overweight is not good for your heart.
“But try to set realistic goals and adopt a healthy lifestyle, as this will help keep the weight off for longer.”
Prof Lee, of the Catholic University of Korea in Seoul, added: “Several previous studies on variability were performed in other populations, suggesting it is likely to be a common phenomenon.”
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the “silent killer” because it can cause few symptoms.
About 16 million people in Britain – one in four adults – suffer from it.
Approximately 62,000 “unnecessary deaths” from stroke and heart attacks occur each year due to poor blood pressure control. This equates to 170 deaths every day.
The findings of the new paper are reported in the journal Circulation.