Regaining weight after diet? Endocrinologist shares what happens in your body

Did you know that regaining lost weight is a way of your brain seeing diet as a threat to the body's energy source? Find out what happens in body as you diet.

Are you dieting and checking all the boxes of avoiding junk and sugary goods? You may eagerly wait for the numbers on the weighing scale to drop, only to watch them climb back up after some time. Much to your dismay, you may begin to treat this weight regain as a personal failure, blaming a lack of willpower or motivation. But maybe it is not a personal problem, but rather a biological reaction.

Instead of letting frustration make you give up on your fitness goals when you find yourself back at square one, it is important to understand what happens inside your body when you diet. Is weight regain partly a physiological response? Dr Neeta Deshpande, endocrinologist, CMO, and member of the Elevate Now Medical Advisory, confirmed that people regain weight after dieting due to certain hormonal changes in the body.

Why does the body regain weight after dieting?

Ever wondered why you feel hungrier when you are dieting, even when you are eating the recommended number of calories without exceeding the limit? In other words, you are not starving yourself; then why do you still get cravings?

The expert believed the answer was in how your brain responds. It reacts to a reduction in energy intake by interpreting it as a sign that the body may be starving. Dr Deshpande shared that dieting ‘activates mechanisms designed to restore what has been lost.’

Because of this, you feel hungry and give in to your cravings!

The endocrinologist shared the detailed breakdown, a chain reaction that occurs in your body as you begin to diet. She also mentioned which hormones are involved: “The brain senses that this body is starving and goes into compensatory mode, allowing the hunger hormones to increase and the satiety hormones to decrease. Thus paving the way for weight to come back. When a person diets and loses weight, the body does not accept the weight loss and moves on. It begins to respond to the reduction in energy. "

Eat a balanced diet so that you stay nourished and satiated, instead of starving yourself. (Picture credit: Unsplash)

Is weight gain caused by a lack of motivation?

Here's a reassuring perspective, as regaining weight after months of effort can understandably feel demotivating. Regaining weight after a diet is not proof of lack of discipline. Instead of blaming yourself or abandoning your fitness goals, remember that a lack of motivation is only one part of the story.

According to Dr Deshpande, the body's compensatory response is instrumental in restoring the lost weight.

Returning to a common challenge faced by people trying to lose weight, she said, "This is one of the reasons why maintaining weight loss can be more difficult than losing weight. A person may follow a diet for several months, lose weight, and feel that they have reached their goal, only to find themselves feeling hungrier and less satisfied as they try to maintain that weight.”

So, when you reach your goal weight, it does not mean you slack off and become complacent. Continue following a sustainable diet that is not extreme or overly restrictive to ensure that your habits remain manageable in the long run.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.