Many people struggle with the frustrating cycle of losing weight only to gain it back quickly. This issue has led experts to investigate the underlying causes of rapid weight regain. A recent study suggests that the reason for this might be linked to what researchers are calling "fat cell memory."
A team of scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich analyzed human tissue samples and conducted experiments on mice to understand the phenomenon. The results, reported by Science Alert, revealed that fat cells in mammals have a genetic memory that stores a record of a person’s past obesity. This memory could be the reason why some individuals regain weight quickly after losing it.
The researchers found that mice that had previously been overweight, and thus carried this genetic "memory," were able to gain weight back faster than mice that had never experienced obesity.
Laura Hentti, a geneticist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the lead researcher on the study, referred to this phenomenon as "obesity-causing memory." She explained that this memory is responsible for what is known as the "yo-yo effect," where individuals rapidly regain weight after losing it, even when using popular weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.
She further noted that targeting this fat cell memory in future treatments could significantly improve long-term weight management and help prevent the cycle of rapid weight regain.
This discovery opens new avenues for understanding the biological mechanisms behind weight gain and loss, and may offer insights into more effective, sustainable methods for managing obesity and maintaining a healthy weight.
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