A new study published in the journal Obesity has shed light on why it’s so difficult to maintain weight loss over the long term, even after extreme measures.
The research followed contestants of the reality TV show The Biggest Loser for six years after the show ended. The findings were startling: most contestants regained much of the weight they had lost.
While many might assume this weight gain was due to a lack of willpower or a return to old habits, researchers discovered a more complex explanation.
Slowing Metabolism
During the study, scientists tracked the contestants’ basal metabolic rates (BMR). As participants lost weight, their bodies began burning fewer calories. One contestant reportedly consumed only 800 calories a day yet still gained weight.
This dramatic metabolic slowdown makes long-term weight loss far more challenging, as the body requires less energy to perform everyday activities once mass decreases.
The Role of Homeostasis
Experts also point to the concept of homeostasis—the body’s natural tendency to maintain a “set point” weight. Just as we set our homes to a comfortable temperature, the body attempts to return to a familiar weight. This survival mechanism, likely developed to protect against starvation, may explain why so many people repeatedly lose and regain the same pounds.
What Can Be Done?
Despite these challenges, experts emphasize that sustainable health improvements are possible. Key strategies include:
-
Adapting lifestyle changes rather than relying solely on willpower.
-
Regular exercise, which not only burns calories but also boosts metabolism even after workouts.
-
Managing expectations, since plateaus are a normal part of the process. Adjusting diet, activity levels, and sleep can help overcome them.
-
Early prevention, particularly in children, to set a healthier “normal” body weight and avoid struggles later in life.
The study highlights a difficult truth: our bodies naturally resist weight loss. However, with persistence, exercise, and healthy habits established early in life, individuals can push back against the body’s tendency to revert to old weight patterns.
