Scientists say unrealistic weight loss targets issued because of a failure to allow for changes to metabolism as weight drops off
National guidelines that advise people how to lose weight are seriously flawed and grossly overstate how quickly they will reach their targets, scientists say.
Researchers found people lost only half as much weight as expected in a year if they followed the advice given by the NHS and US health organisations.
The problem came to light when government scientists at the US National Institutes of Health in Maryland realised standard weight loss advice – including its own – failed to account for changes in metabolism as people lost weight.
The rule of thumb used by the NHS and other health services assumes that if a person cuts 500 calories from their daily diet, they will lose about 450g (1lb) each week, regardless of how long they adhered to the regime.
But as people lose weight, their metabolism slows until they reach a new stable bodyweight. Their weight loss is further complicated by how much body fat and muscle they have when they start dieting.
"Dietitians and physicians have used this rule of thumb for a long time, but it turns out to be completely wrong. It doesn't account for metabolic changes that happen when people change diet," said Kevin Hall, who led the research.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/feb/21/weight-loss-guidelines-wrong-vancouver
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3 comments:
I am regularly amused by all the weight loss bloggers who whine about not losing weight when they blindly follow some highly promoted diet plan.
Dang it, if somebody is not losing weight on a one-size-fits-all diet, it should be obvious that they need to adjust the diet. Why is that so hard for some people to understand? Do some experimenting, do more exercise, or reduce calories or carbs, or something.
If a diet isn't working, modify it. Don't just act stupid.
Something I have just come across is a reference suggesting that low potassium may be a factor in promoting the onset of diabetes. The article is about the effects of diuretics, but when you consider that much of what people eat and drink on the Western diet is diuretic anyway, plus the fact that low stomach acid can also prevent potassium uptake - and that is actually a problem for many people (acid reflux is often assumed to be high acid when in fact the oesophageal sphincter doesn't shut properly because the acid levels are too low), then it is quite possible.
It seems that not only can low potassium trigger poor glucose intolerance, but it can also lead to weight gain and a difficulty losing weight (my problems very much so, even on very low carb).
I remember some on the low-carbdiabetes site were experimenting with cider vinegar and finding that it lowered their blood sugar levels - perhaps because it contains potassium.....
One article also mentioned that insulin can lower potassium, and I understand that Metformin and the Sufonylureas can too, which seems extremely counter-productive!
http://www.scientistlive.com/European-Science-News/Medical/Potassium_loss_may_promote_diabetes/21331/
http://www.lef.org/protocols/metabolic_health/diabetes_01.htm
PS. Bearing in mind that what shows up in blood tests as 'normal' is only showing what is in the blood stream - and gives no indication whether the potassium (or any other element for that matter) has been taken up by the cells or not.
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