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Published on
Jan 5, 2025 at 7:04 a.m.
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How can we explain the yoyo effect, this process of rapid weight loss… but which leads to just as rapid weight regain? The most widespread idea is that after the euphoria of the first pounds lost, reality catches up with us. The body and mind become exhausted in the face of drastic restrictions and poor nutrition habits take over.
In the journal Nature, Swiss researchers nevertheless provide a more scientific perspective. A view based on epigenetics.
Unlike our genetic sequence which remains stable throughout our life, epigenetic markers are dynamic and can be influenced by our lifestyle, particularly our diet. These markers determine which genes are active or inactive in our cells.
Fat cells have memory
The study from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich actually shows that overweight and obesity leave a lasting imprint on fat cells. Researchers have discovered that even after successful weight loss, these cells retain a “memory” of their previous state. “Adipose cells remember the state of being overweight and can return to it more easily,” explain the authors. “So we found a molecular basis for the yo-yo effect. »
This discovery was validated in both mice and humans, through the analysis of adipose tissue samples taken from people who had undergone bariatric surgery.
Prevention is key
“Adipose cells have a long lifespan,” the authors continue. “On average, they live ten years before our body replaces them with new cells. It is not yet possible to modify the relevant epigenetic markers in the cell nucleus using drugs and thus erase the epigenetic memory.”
Researchers therefore emphasize the importance of prevention: the best way to combat the yo-yo effect is to avoid being overweight early in life. A message addressed to young people and their parents.
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