Studies Show Weight Cycling May Increase Diabetes Risk

In a 2018 publication, Rhee and colleagues found that "weight cycling was significantly associated with increased risk for diabetes." Weight cycling happens when you repeatedly lose and then gain weight. Dieting of any type is known to lead to weight cycling.

Montani and colleagues (2015) said "dieting and weight cycling is likely to become an increasingly serious public health issue."

Diabetes is a condition that occurs across the size spectrum and there are many potential root causes. While many providers recommend weight loss as a strategy to prevent or reverse diabetes, the existing evidence suggests this recommendation is likely causing harm.

Instead of focusing on the scale, I suggest a shift to health-promoting behaviors. Weight is not a behavior, but these are: joyful movement, stress reduction, eating an adequate amount of nourishing food, and getting enough sleep.

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References:

Obesity Reviews (2015) 16 (Suppl. 1), 7–18

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2018 May;139:230-238