The Obesity Problem.
In an attempt to counteract the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity the "eat less, move more" mantra evolved encouraging a reduction in energy intake and an increase in energy expenditure. Calorie restrictive dietary regimes have traditionally been the prescribed weight management methodology to promote a calorie deficit, however, whilst many people lose weight with this strategy in the short term, as few as 5-10% of dieters manage to maintain meaningful weight loss for 12 months or more. So what is going on?
Why do diets fail?
Historically an inability to sustain healthy eating behaviours has been blamed for these poor long term weight loss outcomes. Evidence has been accumulating, though, that normal physiological responses to calorie restriction may be the main reason weight loss tapers or is regained over the longer term. Reductions in metabolism and increases in appetite, in particular, are commonly experienced following calorie restriction and initial weight loss which present significant barriers to future weight loss.
The solution?
As increased hunger is implicated in some research as the primary saboteur of long term weight loss, controlling or mitigating hunger is consequently emerging as a weight management strategy. A reduction in hunger correlates with a decrease in calorie intake and appetite suppressant medications have recently been approved as a safe and effective treatment for obesity. Our appetite is also significantly impacted by the type of food we consume and our choice of nutrition may be more influential in satisfying hunger than the number of calories we consume.