Inefficacy and Harm from Weight Loss Interventions

The pursuit of weight loss has become a dominant focus in contemporary health discussions, often driven by societal standards and personal aspirations. However, an increasing body of research highlights the potential inefficacies and harms associated with various weight loss interventions. This collection of research papers delves into the complexities surrounding weight loss strategies, examining not only their effectiveness but also the unintended consequences that may arise from their implementation.

As we explore these studies, it becomes evident that weight loss interventions can sometimes lead to adverse health outcomes, psychological distress, and a cycle of weight regain. By critically analyzing the findings presented in these papers, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of weight management and encourage a more nuanced approach to health and wellness that prioritizes overall well-being over mere numbers on a scale.

Below is a curated list of research papers that investigate the inefficacy and potential harm associated with weight loss interventions, providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals, researchers, and individuals seeking a more informed perspective on weight management.

* indicates notable paper

• Bacon L & Aphramor L. (2011). Weight Science: Evaluating the Evidence for a Paradigm Shift. Nutrition Journal 2011, 10:9

• Clifford, D., Ozier, A., Bundros, J., Moore, J., Kreiser, A., & Morris, M. N. (2015). Impact of Non-Diet Approaches on Attitudes, Behaviors, and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 47(2), 143–155.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2014.12.002

• Department of Health and Aging. National and Medical Research Council. Clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity in adults, adolescents and children in Australia, Melbourne 2013, p. 161.

• Dulloo A., Jacquet J, Montani J (2012). How dieting makes some fatter: from a perspective of human body composition autoregulation. Proc Nutr Soc. 2012 Aug;71(3):379-89.

• Dulloo, A. et al (2015). How dieting makes the lean fatter: from a perspective of body composition autoregulation through adipostats and protein stats awaiting discovery. Obesity Reviews, 16, 25–35. doi:10.1111/obr.12253

• Field, A. E., Austin, S. B., Taylor, C. B., Malspeis, S., Rosner, B., Rockett, H. R., Gillman, M. W., & Colditz, G. A. (2003). Relation between dieting and weight change among preadolescents and adolescents. Pediatrics, 112(4), 900–906. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.112.4.900

• Fothergill E et al. (2016). Persistent Metabolic Adaptation 6 Years After “The Biggest Loser” Competition. Obesity Aug;24(8):1612-9.

• Gaesser & Angadi (2021). Obsity treatment: Weight loss versus increasing fitness and physical activity for reducing health risks. iScience 24 102995. (open access)

• Golden N, Schneider M, Wood C et al. (2016) Preventing Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents. Pediatrics.. 138(3):e20161649.

• Keys A et al. The Biology of Human Starvation vol I & II. University of Minnesota. St. Paul: Minnesota, 1950.

• Lavie C. The Obesity Paradox: When Thinner Means Sicker and Heavier Means Healthier.

• Hudson Street Press: .NY:NY 2014.

• Lowe D. et al (2020). Effects of Time-Restricted Eating on Weight Loss and Other Metabolic Parameters in Women and Men With Overweight and Obesity The TREAT Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Internal Medicine. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4153

• Mann T. et al (2007). Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: Diets are not the answer. Am Psychologist. 62(3):220-233.

• Mensinger J, Tylka T, Calamari M (2018). Mechanisms underlying weight status and healthcare avoidance in women: A study of weight stigma, body-related shame and guilt, and healthcare stress. Body Image 25:139-147.

• Neumark-Sztainer, D., Wall, M., Larson, N. I., Eisenberg, M. E., & Loth, K. (2011). Dieting and disordered eating behaviors from adolescence to young adulthood: findings from a 10-year longitudinal study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 111(7), 1004–1011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2011.04.012

• Solmi et al  (2020). Changes in the prevalence and correlates of weight-control behaviors and weight perception in adolescents in the UK, 1986-2015.    JAMA Pediatrics November 15, 2020.

• Tomiyama  et al. (2018). How &why weight stigma …harms health. BMC Medicine 16:123.Tomiyama, A. J., Mann, T., Vinas, D., Hunger, J. M., Dejager, J., & Taylor, S. E. (2010). Low calorie dieting increases cortisol. Psychosomatic medicine, 72(4), 357–364. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181d9523c