Maybe if we knew the risks for weight regain after weight loss we could avoid the latter.
Well, here they are.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia reviewed data from the 1310 US adults who were overweight or obese (body mass index at least 25) and experienced substantial weight loss (weighed 10% less than their maximum weight 1 year before they were surveyed).
A third of these people regained weight. Here are the risk factors.
- Mexican American ethnicity (vs non-Hispanic white)
- Losing a greater percentage of maximum weight (at least 20% vs 10% to less than 15%)
- Fewer years since reaching maximum weight (2 to 5 years vs greater than 10 years)
- Reporting greater daily screen time (TV, video, or computer: at least 4 hours vs 0?1 hour)
- Attempting to control weight
- Sedentary lifestyle or not meeting public health recommendations for physical activity
The bottom line?
There’s not much you can do (or might want to do) about your Mexican heritage. But looking at the rest of the list, it appears that life is full of choices and we are a reflection of those choices over time.
My advice?
- A bit more exercise as described here and here
- A little less time in front of the screen
- View life as a marathon not a sprint.
7/22/07 14:16 JR