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- $Unique_ID{BRK02145}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{The Risks of Rapidly Fluctuating Weight}
- $Subject{yo-yo dieting weight loss coronary artery heart disease}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- The Risks of Rapidly Fluctuating Weight
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- QUESTION: The new buzz word that is going around is "Yo-Yo" dieting. If I
- understand the articles in the paper, you might be better off if you stayed
- fat. It sure would save a lot of guilt, and probably considerable money too.
- Still I find it hard to believe that fat is better than thin, so I hope you
- will try to explain what all the frenzy is about.
-
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-
- ANSWER: The wave of articles in the press and stories on television were
- inspired by the results of a recent study published in the New England Journal
- of Medicine. It was based upon findings in the ongoing evaluation of adult
- residents (ages 30-62) of the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, which was
- started in 1948, and is collecting health statistics over the lifetime of
- these individuals. Reviewing the health records of 3,130 participants
- revealed that individuals whose weight fluctuated frequently over a period of
- 32 years had a greater risk of coronary artery heart disease than people whose
- weight remained relatively stable. An additional conclusion was that the more
- the weight changed, the greater was the risk. That doesn't mean that
- individuals who are substantially overweight won't achieve a better health
- profile by shedding those excess pounds. It translates into recommendations
- for safer, slower weight loss, that is maintained by new eating habits and
- increasing the exercise content of daily living.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-