Discussion Board

I ask this question because I'm worried about my parents. My dad is in his early 70s and my mom will be 70 next year. They were both overweight a few years ago and my mom had been diagnosed with fatty liver disease. They have lost weight quickly through a commercial weight-loss plan* but whenever they gain it back (after a vacation or Christmas, for example) they go back on the weight loss plan to lose it again.

It's my understanding that frequent dieting results in loss of muscle mass, which slows metabolism, which makes it harder to lose weight the next time around. But I'm wondering if there's any scientific basis for this. Can anyone point me in the direction of some relevant studies?

(*The diet involves replacing several meals a day with weight-loss shakes and bars and so far as I can tell they are probably getting fewer than 1000 calories a day when on this diet, possibly as low as 800, which really worries me ... they are advised not to exercise or exert themselves in the first "phase" of the diet which makes it seem like they're probably on a starvation diet.)

Separate issues in important ways.

Loss of muscle mass is a big problem, makes you weak and helpless as you age and will eventually rob you or being able to fend for yourself.

Slower metabolism is a good thing IF you eat appropriately as it will cause you to live longer and be healthier. Of course, if you eat as if it were the same fast metabolism then you will gain weight and be even more unhealthy.

Thank you, I hadn't thought of the dangers of losing muscle mass in terms of losing independence. I now wonder if yo-yo dieting (especially if it's a high-protein diet which I think this one is) might also increase the risk of osteoporosis?

Just the fact of high protein increase osteoporosis risk. Yo-yo diet, not sure but it definitely stressed system in many ways.