It's not just about the number on the scale: The hidden value of so-called 'yo-yo dieting'
Medical Xpress
February 24, 2026
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Yo-yo dieting, often criticized for its cyclical nature of weight loss and regain, has been found to offer long-term health benefits, according to a groundbreaking study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. This pattern, where individuals repeatedly attempt to lose weight through lifestyle changes but eventually regain it, may have a positive impact on body composition, particularly in reducing visceral fat—a metabolically active tissue linked to serious health conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Visceral fat, located deep within the abdominal cavity, is more harmful than subcutaneous fat because it releases inflammatory markers and hormones that can contribute to metabolic syndrome. The study highlights that even though individuals may not maintain their weight loss long-term, the repeated cycles of dieting can lead to significant reductions in visceral fat, potentially lowering the risk of cardiometabolic diseases over time.
For many people, the challenge isn't just losing weight once but sustaining it. However, this research suggests that the health benefits of yo-yo dieting may outweigh the risks, particularly for those who struggle with maintaining weight loss. The study followed participants over two decades and found that even in cases where individuals regained lost weight, their overall cardiometabolic risk was reduced compared to those who never attempted to lose weight.
This finding is significant
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Originally published on Medical Xpress on 2/24/2026