WEIGHT GAIN

REBOUND WEIGHT GAIN AMONG OBESE POPULATION

1. What is rebound weight gain and what are some common reasons why it happens among obese people?

Rebound weight gain is how the body can gain back its original weight after completing a certain diet plan, such as, caloric counting or yoyo diet. The reasons vary from one person to another. For example;

  • Metabolism changes

The body’s processes can change due to changes in metabolism. For instance, most reactions are occur depending on the type of nutrients ingested. Therefore, denying the body some nutrient can affects the hormones, which later impact metabolism.

  • The diet type followed

Some foods contain molecules that retain water, making us weigh heavier on the scale, such as, fiber foods. Also, some diets can disrupt the bowel’s microbiome and affect absorption and wastes release.

  • Microbiome and gastric emptying changes.

Researchers suggest that foods with lower calories possibly cause faster gastric emptying.

2. On a hormonal level, why might people who’ve recently lose weight still feel hungry even after they’re “full”?

After weight loss, the body has a mechanism that stimulates production of ghrelin hormone, which increases appetite. The hormone’s levels goes even higher when you were overweight and then lost pounds.

3. What is the link between the brain and the digestive system and what do we know about how they affect weight gain and weight loss (as well as keeping weight off once you’ve lost it)?

The hypothalamus in the brain contains cells that can trigger hunger, a factor that highly contributes to weight gain.

4. What can people do to help make permanent changes like medically healthy weight loss?

I always insist of regular exercise, including resistance training and aerobics. They can help increase lean mass, which has a significant influence on resting metabolic rate and general metabolism. Such exercises can help stay away from rebound.  I also recommend eating a high protein diet with healthy fats and high dense carbs.

Charlotte Cremers
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MS, University of Tartu
Sleep specialist

Using the acquired academic and professional experience, I advise patients with various complaints about mental health - depressed mood, nervousness, lack of energy and interest, sleep disorders, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts and anxieties, difficulty concentrating, and stress. In my free time, I love to paint and go on long walks on the beach. One of my latest obsessions is sudoku – a wonderful activity to calm an unease mind.

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