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Coffee Cup Research Review #1 : Long Term Hormonal Adaptations to Low Calorie Diets

Intro:

 The term “yoyo-dieting” is often referenced when talking about weight regain following a diet. This effect can commonly be observed in many short term, highly restrictive, and very low-calorie diets. Remember that apple cider green tea cleanse your mom did for a week thinking it would tone her stomach? Well what happens when that tea cleanse ends a week later? Humans are creatures of habit and, not surprisingly, tend to fall back into old habits.

The-Nitty-Gritty:
 The authors of this study observed
50 overweight or non-diabetic patients for a 10- week weight loss program. They then checked back in with patients over a year (62 weeks) later. Several hormones, substances and scores were evaluated but the ones we will focus on will be primarily leptin, ghrelin, and subjective rating of appetite. Participants replaced three daily meals with a diet formula and low starch vegetables (2 cups) for a whopping total of 500-550 calories a day. During weeks 9 and 10, those who lost more than 10% of their initial weight gradually began to reintroduce ordinary foods to stabilize their weight. Subjects were then put in a weight maintenance phase under the guidance of a dietitian.

What Happened / Results:
 -Significant reductions in Leptin (A hormone responsible for feeling full)
  -64.5% (+/-3.4%) after first 10 weeks
  -Leptin levels rose slightly between weeks 10-62 likely as a homeostatic response.
  -At week 62 (over a year later) Leptin levels were still 35.5% (+/-4.7)
   below baseline!
 -Increases in Ghrelin (A hormone responsible for signaling hunger)
  -Ghrelin levels decreased between weeks 10-62 likely as a homeostatic response.
 -Increase in subjective appetite
 
Takeaway:
Very low-calorie diets for extended periods have been found to affect your hormonal profile even a year after completing the diet. According to this study, you are more likely to be hungrier and be less full from meals as a result. The authors also reported that there was a greater than predicted decline in 24-hour energy expenditure upon losing weight that remained for longer than a year after dieting. This means even a year after you’re done with your very low-calorie diet, your metabolism could still be lower or recovering. Before starting any diet, consider the long-term effects that could take place. Something that a celebrity or social media figure sells as a healthy short-term fix could be far from the truth.

Sumithran, Priya,M.B., B.S., Prendergast, L. A., PhD., Delbridge, E., PhD., Purcell, K., B.Sc, Shulkes, A., ScD., Kriketos, A., PhD., & Proietto, Joseph, MB,B.S., PhD. (2011). Long-term persistence of hormonal adaptations to weight loss. The New England Journal of Medicine, 365(17), 1597-604. Retrieved from https://library.semo.edu:2443/login?url=https://library.semo.edu:4836/docview/900816543?accountid=38003

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