Share:
The Biggest Loser TV Show Why are the candidates getting fat again very quickly?
First the kilos tumble, then they are back after a few weeks. The so-called "yo-yo effect" know many people who have ever dieted. Also, most participants of the US show "The Biggest Loser" brought some time after the show again significantly more pounds on the scales. But why is it so difficult to keep the laboriously achieved desired weight? Scientists have accompanied some of the candidates in a long-term study and give an explanation for the phenomenon in the journal "Obesity".
Weight loss program lasts 30 weeks
Who takes the most? That's the big question in "The Biggest Loser," a TV show in which overweight candidates fight each other for the biggest weight loss. The program originally started in 2004 in the US, since 2009, it is also seen in this country. The goal of the participants is: Losing weight - with the help of sports programs and nutrition change as much as possible. But does the concept really work? Or is the fast-paced yo-yo effect also here after the diet? A research team led by Kevin Hall of the US National Institutes of Health wanted to know exactly that and accompanied 14 candidates of the US edition of the show, according to a recent report from the magazine "Spiegel Online". They examined the men and women before the start of the decline program, immediately after the 30-week diet and after six years and examined in addition to the weight and fat content, among other things, the blood levels and the basal metabolic rate.
Most Biggest Loser candidates could not keep their weight after the show. (Picture: Picture-Factory / fotolia) Basal metabolic rate drops significantly in the years following the show
The evaluation of the data made one of the causes of the yo-yo effect clear. Because in all 14 subjects, the so-called "basal metabolic rate" dropped significantly over time. It refers to the amount of energy that the human body needs per day to maintain its functions with complete rest and empty stomach. Before the six men and eight women started the program, according to the researchers, they came to an average of about 2600 kilocalories (kcal) per day, with the values varying between 2000 and 3200 kcal, depending on the participant. After 30 weeks of strict diet and exercise program, however, the basal metabolic rate for all participants was only just under 2000 kcal per day and was thus significantly lower overall.
Participants on average increase more than 40 kilos
This effect continued six years later and even dropped a little further, averaging around 1900 calories a day. Thus, the basal metabolic rate, taking into account the increased age and the changed weight on average 500 kcal below the expected value, the scientists in their article. Therefore, in order to be able to maintain their achieved weight in the long run, the reality show's contestants would have had to eat 500 calories less each day than other people who do not gain extra pounds of energy. But most did not succeed, only one woman managed to lose even more weight after the show. According to the researchers, the others had lost an average of 58.3 kilograms after the end of the show - but after six years they had recovered 41 kilograms from their lost weight. "In summary, we showed that the" The Biggest Loser "participants had gained a significant amount of their lost weight in the last 6 years since the show. But overall, they have been very successful in long-term weight loss compared to other lifestyle measures, "the researchers said in their article.
Great cravings after successful decline
As Spiegel Online reports, just a few days ago, some of the "Biggest Looser" candidates in the "New York Times" had shared their experiences with the special program. For example, today's 46-year-old Danny Cahill had reduced his weight from around 195 to 86 kilos during the show - but now he weighs around 134 kilos again. In order to lose weight, he had been doing permament sports and consuming only a few calories with the goal of burning more than 3500 kilocalories a day more than he took. Had he not reached his destination in the evening, he went back to the gym after dinner to train more. Sometimes he even jogged through the neighborhood in the dark to consume the rest of the calories, according to the New York Times report..
With two to three hours of sports daily after the show, Danny Cahill was able to keep his weight below 115 pounds for four years, but after returning to his old job, another 19 extra kilos followed in the two years that followed. Part of the problem is his slowed metabolism, he also has a strong desire for food. For chips, he takes e.g. always, only a few to eat. "I eat five pieces. Then I have a blackout, eat the whole bag and ask myself, 'What have I done?' "Cahill told the newspaper.
Production of active thyroid hormone is throttled
According to Hans Hauner of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Center for Nutritional Medicine of the Technical University of Munich, the effect of a diet on the basal metabolic rate has been known for some time. Because the body reacts immediately to the loss of weight by producing less active thyroid hormone. As a result, the metabolism slows down, blood pressure and the level of the hormone leptin decrease. However, leptin normally regulates the feeling of hunger, which makes it harder than usual to keep up with eating. "In addition, the basal metabolic rate decreases, because a diet not only reduces fat, but also loses muscle mass, which otherwise consumes a lot of energy," the expert told Spiegel Online..
According to Hauner, there is no explanation for the fact that the metabolism in the subjects of the study was significantly slowed down even six years after the program. It is conceivable, however, that those who generally gave low basal metabolic rates are more likely to be overweight. Because then it is logical that the energy consumption of these persons after a weight reduction is also lower than for someone who, although similar conditions (age, physique, etc.) brings, but has no problem with its weight. (No)