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Many people are familiar with the yo-yo effect: you lose weight, but the weight gradually increases again. The reason is not necessarily a lack of discipline: a new study shows that fat cells “remember” excess weight.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, around half of Germans are overweight – almost one in five is obese, i.e. very overweight with a body mass index over 30.
In many cases, getting rid of excess weight is not the biggest problem, explains Tobias Meile. He heads the obesity center at the Stuttgart Clinic. “Of course it is difficult to lose twenty kilos. But the biggest challenge is maintaining the lower weight in the long term.”
The yo-yo effect is notorious for a reason. Most people who present to the obesity clinic have already been on many diets, none of which have brought lasting success. But so far this effect has not been precisely explained.
The yo-yo effect is not due to a lack of willpower
“There is a certain stigmatization of people who are overweight, lose weight and then fail to maintain their weight,” explains Ferdinand von Meyenn. He researches fat cells at ETH Zurich.
Together with an international team of researchers, he has now published a study in the journal Nature: They were able to show that there are apparently molecular mechanisms that cause the body to defend itself against weight loss.
To do this, the researchers analyzed fatty tissue from people whose obesity had been treated with stomach surgery. Samples were taken before and after massive weight loss. The result: Even two years after the operation, the fat cells still “remembered” the excess weight – through different gene activities.
Cells are constantly reprogrammed
All cells have the same genes, but the same ones are not always used. For example, a cell marks which genes are read as an adaptation to its environment.
The result: the cells have different properties. For example, this can cause fat cells in overweight people to become larger or absorb energy more quickly. And the cells retained these properties even after weight loss. “You have to remember that fat cells are very long-lived,” says von Meyenn. “Some of them remain in the human body for up to ten years. So you can really store changes in the long term.”
The researchers achieved the same result in experiments on overweight mice. Their fat cells also had altered markings in their genome and altered gene patterns were also read in them. The result: Even months after the weight loss, the cells still absorbed more sugar and fat than cells from mice that were always of normal weight. The formerly fat mice gained weight more quickly – the yo-yo effect.
“We have to start therapy much earlier”
The study authors also say that this study has not yet proven that the genetic markers discovered are actually the reason for the yo-yo effect.
But for Meile from the Obesity Center Stuttgart, the study now presented is very interesting. “This sheds light on some things that we have long wondered why.” For him, these results underline how important prevention is in children and adolescents: “We need to start therapy much earlier.” If a diet or drastic weight loss is necessary, it is actually already too late, the cells are already programmed to be overweight.” “It makes much more sense to stop gaining weight at a time when no further weight gain is necessary.
Further research required
A targeted treatment that could reverse the genetic markers now discovered is still a long way off. The experts agree on this.
However, the study results now presented could be used for further research, says study author von Meyenn. You also have to use current medications such as the so-called weight loss injection permanently if you don’t want to gain weight again. “Whether these signatures can be used diagnostically or what medications or interventions might delete them, such as exercise or a particular diet, still requires much research.”
As the website editor of world-today-news.com, I would be happy to arrange an interview with two experts on the topic of the yo-yo effect and its relation to obesity. The interview would cover the following thematic sections:
1. Explaining the Yo-Yo Effect: In the first section, we can discuss the Yo-Yo effect mentioned in the article and how it affects people struggling with weight loss. Our guests can explain what causes this effect and how it hinders long-term weight maintenance.
2. Understanding Fat Cells: In the second section, we can delve deeper into the study that suggests fat cells “remember” excess weight. Our guests can discuss how this finding challenges traditional beliefs about weight loss and maintenance. They can also explain the role of fat cells in obesity and how they contribute to weight gain.
3. The Impact of Early Intervention: The third section can focus on the importance of prevention and early intervention in addressing obesity. Our guests can discuss the long-term benefits of helping individuals maintain a healthy weight from a younger age and the consequences of waiting too long to start therapy.
4. Future Research and Treatment Options: we can explore potential avenues for further research and new treatments based on the study’s findings. Our guests can discuss the challenges of developing targeted therapies and how these discoveries might be used in practice.
Open-ended questions for the interview could include:
1. Can you explain the Yo-Yo effect and how it affects individuals struggling with weight loss?
2. How do fat cells contribute to obesity and the challenges of maintaining weight loss?
3. What are the long-term consequences of not addressing obesity early in life?
4. How can the findings from the recent study on fat cells alter our approach to weight loss therapy and prevention?
5. What are some potential avenues for future research in this field?
6. What are the challenges of developing targeted treatments for the yo-yo effect, and how might we overcome them?
These questions are designed to encourage a thoughtful discussion on the key topics covered in the article and should help our readers gain a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding obesity
