Weight re-gained after weight loss results in less muscle, more fat, study finds

A Leicester study that measured the fat mass and fat-free (muscle) mass of dieters suggests that weight loss followed by weight regain has a negative impact on muscle mass. 

The findings of the study carried out by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) research team, published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism this week looked at the body composition of 622 adults at-risk of type 2 diabetes. 

The lead author, Tom Yates, Professor of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Health at the University of Leicester, said: “The clinical and economic costs of obesity have driven an expansion in dietary interventions and pharmacological weight loss therapies. But sadly, weight regain is common over the longer-term with all diets or once obesity therapies are withdrawn. 

“This study raises important questions around the longer-term implications that cycles of weight loss followed weight regain has on body composition and long-term physical health.” 

This study took a close look at observations made on people at risk of type 2 diabetes taking part in the ‘Walking Away from type 2 diabetes’ behavioural intervention, which aimed to increase physical activity through walking. 

Participants’ annual weight change was assessed over two 24-month periods. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), providing details on their fat mass and fat-free mass which was validated against dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans. 

Professor Yates said: “Fat-free mass is all of your body parts that do not contain fat, of which the largest component is muscle mass. A loss of fat-free mass occurs with aging, but can be further affected by lifestyle behaviours. Anything that acts to increase the loss of fat-free mass can therefore be thought of as accelerating the aging process with implication for the longer-term risk of muscle weakness and frailty.” 

The study found although the majority of participants maintained their body weight with no change to fat mass or fat free mass, some (4.5% of observations) lost over 5% of their body weight between the start of the study and 12 months, which was then regained between 12 to 24 months. 

Professor Yates continued: “What was particularly interesting to us was that the individuals who lost, and then regained weight, went on to regain all of their fat mass, but lost 1.5 kg of fat free mass. This equates to about a decade of aging. This suggests that ‘weight cycling’ may be associated with a progressively worsening body composition which could have knock-on effects for longer-term physical health.” 

To read the full paper please visit:

The NIHR Leicester BRC is part of the NIHR and hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in partnership with the University of Leicester, Loughborough University and the University Hospitals of the Northamptonshire NHS Group. The Leicester Real World Evidence Unit is part of the Leicester Diabetes Centre. 

Ends  

For media enquiries and interview requests, please contact: 

Joanna Jones, Science Communications Manager, NIHR Leicester BRC  on 07966 678057 or email Joanna.x.jones@uhl-tr.nhs.uk 

Notes for editors 

The NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre 

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is part of the NIHR and hosted by the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in partnership with the University of Leicester, Loughborough University and the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group. 

The NIHR Leicester BRC undertakes translational clinical research in priority areas of high disease burden and clinical need. These are: 

• Respiratory and infection
• Personalised cancer prevention and treatment 
• Lifestyle (including diabetes) 
• Environment and health 
• Data innovation for multiple long term health conditions and ethnic health 
• Cardiovascular disease 

The BRC harnesses the power of experimental science to explore and develop ways to help prevent and treat chronic disease. It brings together 120 highly skilled researchers, 45 academic ‘rising stars’, more than 90 support staff and students and over 450 public contributors. By having scientists working closely with clinicians and the public, the BRC can deliver research that is relevant to both patients and the professionals who treat them. www.leicesterbrc.nihr.ac.uk  

The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:
 

• Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
• Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
• Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
• Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
• Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
• Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.

 

Leicester’s Research Registry was launch in May 2021 and will share opportunities to get involved in health research taking place in Leicester’s Hospitals, or being run with their research partners, such as the University of Leicester and Loughborough University, in their National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, Clinical Research Facility and Patient Recruitment Centre: Leicester.

To sign up to the registry, potential volunteers need to be over 18 years of age, live in the UK, and have a valid email address. You also have the option to select if there are particular areas of health research you are interested in. You will then receive regular updates on all the exciting opportunities to participate in the hospitals’ research.

To sign up, visit www.leicestershospitals.nhs.uk/researchregistry. You can also visit the dedicated Facebook page.