Guest Author - Denise Oliveri

Have you heard of the saying "Yo-Yo" diet? This refers to individuals who get into a habit of losing weight only to gain it back, only to lose weight again, only to gain it back again. It is a diet with a yo-yo effect, also called weight cycling. It has been long believed that this kind of dieting is bad for you and can actually make it harder for you to lose weight altogether in the long run. How true is this?

It is a myth. Health professionals are now concerned that because so many individuals are carrying around excess weight that does lead to common health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, and common forms of cancer, they will be deterred from even trying to lose weight, if they feel it is a lost cause.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the claims that weight cycling (the Yo-Yo diet) make it more difficult to lose weight are unfounded. There is no substantial factual data that supports this theory. That is good news for those of us that need those second chances to get healthier.

Furthermore, weight cycling will not lead to a tendency to regain weight, no matter how much you have lost. If you lose the weight you want, the only thing that will result in gaining that weight back is to go back to unhealthy eating habits that promote weight gain. If you continue to be conscious of your food choices and exercise regularly, you can keep that weight off for good!

So, it appears that the real worry lies in having excess weight, which can lead to major health risks and place the average adult at a strong risk for developing diabetes mellitus type 2 (a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar and other signs and symptoms) and not doing anything about it. It is a proven fact that women who are overweight are between 7 to 50 times more likely to develop diabetes than leaner women in their same age bracket.

Here are some common ways to help promote weight loss and keep it off for good:

• Eat a well-balanced healthy diet.
• Exercise at least three times a week for 30 minutes.
• Consult with your physician about an eating plan that is right for you.
• Have a support group or an individual that you can lose weight with and be accountable to.

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