Obese People Too Can Maintain Weight Loss

A study conducted by University of Copenhagen gave researchers a deeper insight into the complicated process that revolves around obesity and most importantly, weight loss. However, it is now possible for overweight people to understand how to sustain weight loss.

"This study shows that if an overweight person is able to maintain an initial weight loss, in this case for a year, the body will eventually 'accept' this new weight and thus not fight against it, as is otherwise normally the case when you are in a calorie-deficit state," said researcher Signe Sorensen Torekov.

As per study findings, that if you are able to successfully maintain weight loss for one year, your body will automatically increase the appetite inhibiting hormones, GLP-1 and PYY, from before weight loss level, whereas ghrelin, the hunger hormone, is increased immediately after loss of weight. However, this hormone gained normal levels, that is lowered hunger, after one year. This shows that hormones GLP-1 and PYY can recalibrate to a new 'set point' and thus maintain lower body weight.

Torekov concluded, "The interesting and uplifting news in this study is that if you are able to maintain your weight loss for a longer period of time, it seems as if you have 'passed the critical point', and after this point, it will actually become easier for you to maintain your weight loss than is was immediately after the initial weight loss. Thus, the body is no longer fighting against you, but actually with you, which is good news for anyone trying to lose weight."

The study appears in European Journal of Endocrinology.