As I started my journey as an Internist in primary care, I worked with my patients to eat healthy, exercise, even suggested diets such as intermittent fasting, Noom and so on. I did see many patients have success on them as long as they continued them. However, there were more stories on patients who will eventually return to regular diets and will regain back if not some but almost all there weight and more. So what is the point if for the rest of their lives they need to continue intermittent fasting, or pay money and do Noom or whatever worked for them.
Then the new diabetes medications came to the market targeting weight loss and obesity and I started getting requests to prescribe. But I wanted to understand these better before considering prescribing them. There is nothing more disappointing than having a patient buy an expensive medication paying thousands of dollars just to barely loose weight. Nothing can be more of a disservice to that patient. And so I started working towards understanding how obesity works and why dieting fails to begin with.
What is the Obesity Set Point Theory?
Obesity is a complex condition that is influenced by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. One theory that has been proposed to explain the development and persistence of obesity is the obesity set point theory. In this article, we will explore the concept of the obesity set point and its potential implications for weight management.
The obesity set point theory proposes that the body has a natural or predetermined weight range that is regulated by various physiological processes and the brain. This range is referred to as the "set point." According to this theory, the body has a mechanism that tries to maintain a stable weight range, and any attempts to lose weight or gain weight are resisted by the body's regulatory systems.
The set point theory suggests that if an individual tries to lose weight, the body's regulatory mechanisms will adjust to maintain the previous weight range, which can lead to weight regain. Similarly, if an individual gains weight, the body's regulatory mechanisms will adjust to maintain the new weight range, making it difficult to lose the excess weight.
The concept of the obesity set point is based on the idea that the body has a complex system of hormones and other signals that regulate energy balance, appetite, and metabolism. These signals come from various organs and tissues, including the brain, gut, pancreas, and adipose tissue, and they work together to maintain a stable weight range.
Research has shown that genetic factors can play a role in determining an individual's obesity set point. For example, some individuals may inherit genes that make it more difficult to lose weight or easier to gain weight. Environmental factors such as diet, physical activity, and stress can also influence the obesity set point by affecting the body's hormonal and metabolic processes.
While the obesity set point theory is still being researched and debated, it suggests that long-term weight loss may be difficult to achieve and maintain for some individuals, particularly those who are predisposed to obesity due to genetic or environmental factors. However, lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise may help to lower the obesity set point and promote weight loss and weight maintenance over time.
One potential implication of the obesity set point theory is that weight loss should be approached as a long-term process rather than a quick fix. This means that instead of focusing solely on calorie restriction, individuals should aim to make sustainable lifestyle changes that can lower the obesity set point over time. For example, incorporating more physical activity into daily life, eating a balanced diet that is rich in whole foods, and reducing stress levels may help to lower the obesity set point and promote long-term weight management.
In conclusion, the obesity set point theory proposes that the body has a natural weight range that is regulated by physiological processes and the brain. While the theory is still being researched, it suggests that long-term weight management may be more successful when approached as a gradual process that involves sustainable lifestyle changes.
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