Effects of Repeated Cycles of Weight loss and Regain in Obese Individuals: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Most of obese persons have repeated attempts to weight loss throughout life. Failure to maintain weight loss leads to weight regain. Repeated cycles of weight loss and regain are called weight cycling (WCy), weight fluctuation, or weight instability. WCy is the most challenging issue of weight regulation in obesity. Some recent studies have indicated the potential association between WCy, metabolic profile, and fat composition. Animals with WCy history had up to the five-fold increase in weight gain compared to the obese with stable weight. WCy can alter hormones involved in energy hemostasis, decrease resting metabolic rate, and increase food efficiency. Studies have suggested that WCy can lead to more difficult weight loss in the next attempt than before. This issue is a poor prognostic sign due to unfavorable metabolic and psychological parameters. WCy has been associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, bone fracture, cardiovascular disease, and cancers in the recent studies. An accelerated immune response due to WCy can increase the negative effects on metabolism. The aim of this review article was to highlight the negative consequences of WCy on the health status of obese subjects.