Yo-yo weight loss is defined as unhealthy weight loss followed by weight gain. The term was first used by Kelly D. Brown, PhD of Yale University. Most often considered a fad or extreme diet, yo-yo weight loss has received negative press for many years. Experts in the field of weight loss have recently reviewed yo-yo dieting and deemed it healthier than originally thought if the dieter keeps at least some of the weight off.

Why Does Yo-Yo Weight Loss Get Such Bad Press?

Yo-yo weight loss diets are often referred to as crash diets. Crash eating typically involves starvation or very low calorie diets. Starving the body to lose weight can reduce metabolic rate, lead to organ damage and cause death in extreme cases. Weight lost on a crash diet is often regained as soon as the dieter chooses to eat more calories. This results in the yo-yo effect of weight loss followed by weight gain.

The trouble with defining yo-yo weight loss as a crash diet is the fact that not every dieter losing and regaining weight is doing so through unhealthy means. Yo-yo weight loss can result from changing dieting plans, exercise regimes or due to medical illness or disease. On a basic level, if a dieter moves from a low-carbohydrate plan to a controlled calorie plan there could be some weight gain before weight loss resumes. By definition, this is yo-yo dieting, but not as an effect of crash dieting. Illness can also cause weight gain after weight loss.

Negative Net Weight Loss is Positive

Yo-yo weight loss does not always mean total pounds lost are regained. The negative net weight loss is calculated after weight gain on a yo-yo diet. If a dieter has lost 50 pounds and regained 30, the negative net weight loss is 20 pounds. Losing 20 pounds can have a huge impact on overall health and disease prevention. If yo-yo weight loss involves losing more weight than is regained, the effect on body processes will always be positive, despite the negative press surrounding yo-yo dieting. Just a 10% loss in total body weight can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes dramatically even if losing that 10% is a result of yo-yo weight loss.