‘Biggest Loser’ contestants have slower metabolisms, new study finds

Weight loss remains a big priority for millions of Americans but permanently dropping pounds has proved difficult in spite of a huge weight-loss industry. But a new study shows how dropping large amounts of weight can still lead to long-term issues for patients as their metabolism may slow dramatically.

In new study to be published in the journal Obesity, scientists followed contestants from The Biggest Loser season 8 for six years to see what happened to them after they lost so much weight, the New York Times reports. Led by Kevin Hall, a scientist at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the researchers found that people’s resting metabolism—how many calories they burn when they’re at rest—changes dramatically after weight loss.

The men and women had normal metabolisms for their weight when they were obese, the Times reports. However, once they dropped a massive amount of weight, their resting metabolisms slowed so significantly that they were not burning enough calories to maintain their new size. This is a normal reaction to weight loss; what was surprising was that as time passed and the people gained back weight, their metabolisms continued to slow, making the process harder.

The winner of season 8, Danny Cahill, lost nearly 240 pounds in less than a year. Since then, he’s gained back 100 pounds, the Times reports. But the findings may also apply to people who lose less.

The new study adds to a growing body of research aimed at understanding why it’s so difficult for people to lose weight, and why some are more successful than others.

Three Reasons You Gain Weight Back After Losing Weight

1 YOU AVOID THE SCALE

After months of daily weigh-ins, grueling workouts and adhering to a strict diet, you finally hit your goal weight. But now, just two months later, your skinny jeans are starting to feel a tad tight and you’re not sure why. If you’re like the majority of dieters you’re still eating well and exercising, but you stopped stepping on the scale—a major no-no. Although the number on the scale isn’t the only way to judge your continued success, research shows that those who avoid the ritual tend to pack on more weight than those who don’t.

Counter It: There’s no need to be a slave to your scale; checking in once a week should do the trick. Since weight naturally fluctuates throughout the week, researchers say that Wednesday weigh ins are the most accurate.

2 YOU’RE SUPER TENSE

If your crazy-busy life has left you feeling worn down and stressed, that could be the reason you’re starting to look a bit mushy in the middle. Cortisol, the hormone that’s released when we’re under pressure, causes the body to metabolize food more slowly. To make matters worse, the types of food we crave when we’re tense tend to be fat and sugar-laden, say researchers. As a result, this diet-derailing combination can kill your hard-earned weight loss wins.

Counter It: To stay cool as a cucumber and keep those pesky pounds at bay, give a few different stress management tactics a try, suggests Lori Zanini, RD, CDE, Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Practicing yoga, meeting up with friends and unplugging from technology for an evening are all things Zanini says are worth a shot. See what works best for you, and set aside time to decompress a few times per week. Thinking about picking up yoga? You should know these 7 Surprising Reasons You Should Be Doing Yoga Now.

3 YOU DIDN’T RENEW YOUR GYM MEMBERSHIP

While eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important aspect of any weight maintenance plan, sticking to an exercise program after you’ve reached your goal may be the key to keeping the pounds off long-term according to University of Alabama researchers. The study team noticed that participants who stopped breaking a sweat after losing weight experienced a dip in their metabolism, while those who continued to workout for forty minutes three times a week continued to fry calories at the same rate.

Counter It: Whatever you enjoy—running, lifting, doing yoga or Crossfitting—just keep your heart pumping. Doing so will help you burn off the occasional beer or slice of pizza and keep that pesky flab from sneaking back onto your stomach.

Agencies/Canadajournal