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Yo-Yo Dieting

Yo-yo dieting, or weight cycling, is the repeated losing and regaining of weight. This phenomenon is very common in societies that place an emphasis on being thin. People who lose weight through dieting often regain weight in a short time, and they often add more weight than they lost. Yo-yo dieting may increase the risk of developing heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. It may also increase emotional distress and contribute to a sense of failure and low self-esteem.

SEE ALSO WEIGHT LOSS DIETS; WEIGHT MANAGEMENT.

Frances M. Berg

Bibliography

Lissner, L.; Odell, P.; D'Agostino, D.; and Stoke, J.; et al. "Variability of Body Weight and Health Outcomes in the Framingham Population." New England Journal of Medicine 324:1839–1844.

Brownell, K., and Rodin, J. (1994). "Medical, Metabolic, and Psychological Effects of Weight Cycling." Archives of Internal Medicine 154:1325–1330.