Those who have already lost weight know that you quickly end up regaining the lost pounds. Researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) in Switzerland have found a new explanation for the so-called yo-yo effect and published it in a study. The fat cells in our body have a “memory” that relies on epigenetic modifications.
Epigenetics refers to small chemical markers on our genes, which can be modified by environmental factors such as diet or excess weight. “Epigenetics tells a cell what kind of cell it is and what it should do,” explains Dr. Laura Hinte, professor of nutrition and metabolic epigenetics at ETH Zurich.
These markers persist even after a diet and facilitate weight regain. This was demonstrated by experiments carried out on overweight mice put on a diet. The results were clear: after the diet, the animals’ fat cells continued to display the markers associated with being overweight. Once the mice were given a high-calorie diet again, they gained weight more quickly than the others.
“Fat cells remember the overweight state and can more easily be brought back there,” explains Ferdinand von Meyenn, professor of nutrition and metabolic epigenetics. This experiment revealed “a molecular mechanism of the yo-yo effect”.
The mechanism has also been studied in humans. Adipose tissue biopsies from subjects who were overweight and had gastric bypass surgery showed similar results. The genetic activity in their adipose tissue was consistent with the findings from the mice experiments.
It is unknown how long these epigenetic memories persist. “The lifespan of fat cells is ten years on average,” explains Laura Hinte. “It is currently not possible to modify epigenetic markers in the cell nucleus with drugs and thus erase epigenetic memory. For now, we have to live with this memory effect.
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