The weight loss backsliding challenge

WHILE ACHIEVING weight loss is an important goal for millions of people across the globe, an equally if not more difficult challenge is to retain the weight lost over a long period of time. Weight loss backsliding, that is, regaining lost weight, is common among a high percentage of overweight persons.

According to a 2021 article in the Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, nearly 650 million (or 2/3 of one billion) persons in the world are estimated to be obese. A 2024 article in Current Nutrition Reports states that the prevalence of obesity in the United States has more than tripled over the last half-century and approximately four out of 10 adults are classified as obese, and an additional one-third are overweight.

Overall, a substantial proportion of adult Jamaicans are focused on their weight management challenges, especially the disappointment of seeing their weight loss efforts dashed by a return of recently lost weight. It has also been difficult to define the problem simply in terms of weight management; because for a high percentage of those that have gained excess weight, that gain involves a process that is called increasing insulin resistance

According to Ardinel Davis at Riviera Wellness Retreat Limited, insulin secreted by your pancreas is designed to get into the trillions of cells that comprise your body system; but it has an increasingly difficult time getting there.

“The insulin deficiency among your cells, and the backup of secreted insulin in your blood stream comprise a risk factor for an array of troubling illnesses. So, while you are engaged with reaching and maintaining your weight target, you need to seek a diet pattern that helps to reduce insulin resistance,” Davis said.

She said the achievement and maintenance of an affordable, health-promoting and sustainable diet pattern is key. “No matter the approach used to achieve major weight loss, careful attention to nutritional considerations is necessary. Some journal articles suggest that weight loss backsliding is often the result of adopting changes in diet pattern that the person is unable to continue indefinitely for various reasons,” she said.

According to Bridget Lawrence at Footcare Academy, psychological factors are key variables to consider when addressing weight loss backsliding, according to a 2024 article in the Journal of International Behavioural Medicine.

“The article concludes that aspects of the strength of will and determination, mood, and emotion are relevant in helping to explain weight backsliding. Concerning the psychological factors, research findings indicate that your social support network can be very helpful in engaging your continued use of your new diet pattern. If you do not have such a helpful support network, it might be important to have a lifestyle coach to monitor your food and drink intake and encourage you as the weeks go by,” Lawrence said.

According to Davis, there is no single best strategy for weight management. Hence, strategies for weight loss and its maintenance should be individualised, and healthcare providers must choose the best strategy based on patient preferences.

“Maintaining your weight loss over a long period of time requires attention to variables in the following lifestyle areas: diet pattern, physical activity, social support. The social support is important in harnessing the psychological forces that must be kept active if you are to avoid weight loss backsliding. The social support (should be) from family, significant friends, or a knowledgeable lifestyle coach,” Davis said.

A new diet pattern, she said, needs to be affordable, sustainable, and suitably health-promoting. “It needs to bring to the body recommended amounts of a variety of nutrients that will enhance well-being beyond the issue of weight loss,” she added.

SOURCE: Ardinel Davis (Riviera Wellness Retreat Ltd – rivierawellness@outlook.com) and Bridget Lawrence (Footcare Academy – bridget@footcareacademy.ca).