Researchers have found that weight regain after diets is driven by the brain's evolutionary memory, which perceives the body's past maximum weight as the norm necessary for survival, reports infohub.kz.
Scientists Valdemar Brinnes Ingemann Johansen and Kristoffer Clemmensen from the University of Copenhagen explained why it is difficult for people to maintain weight loss. In the distant past, fat stores helped human ancestors survive periods of famine. As a result, the brain developed robust protective mechanisms aimed at conserving energy.
When losing weight, the body perceives fat loss as a threat to survival. In response, the brain intensively releases hunger hormones, triggers food cravings, and slows down energy expenditure. Moreover, if a person previously weighed more, the brain considers that level as the norm and tries to return to it. Regaining weight is not a lack of discipline but a natural biological reaction.
Popular drugs mimic gut hormones and reduce appetite, but after stopping their use, biological signals often return. According to the authors, combating obesity requires a comprehensive approach, from creating a healthy urban environment to forming healthy habits from early childhood.