New research from the National Exercise and Nutrition Council explains why keeping the weight off after dieting is so difficultThat people start gaining weight as soon as they come off a diet isn't just a myth. New research from the National Exercise and Nutrition Council shows that people can't lose more than 5 to 10 percent of their weight.
It also proves that more than 90 percent of dieters are back to their original weight 2 years after having stopped their diet.
Professor Bjørn Richelsen from the National Exercise and Nutrition Council explains:
'Weight-loss has always been a threat to humanity. You cannot say the same about weight-gain. This is where we find the explanation for why the body has mechanisms for getting the weight back.'
Richelsen points out that it doesn't make a difference what diet is being used: We all have a fat-thermostat and this thermostat can only be increased. Once the level of fat-cells has grown - the increased level of cells are screaming for food.
The body's metabolism and the muscles start working effectively in order to get that fat back. Richelsen believes that this reaction is due to the body's ancient defense-mechanism against hunger.
Professor Richelsen advises people to keep an eye on their weight, and if there is a slight increase then respond straight away: 'Those kind of weight increases are manageable,' says Richelsen.