Dr. Emily Cooper from the Diabesity Research Foundation and author of the Metabolic Storm says in her book that diets don't work. She stopped by the KING 5 studio to talk about whether dieting is a waste of time.
Dr. Cooper: You probably know someone who has been through repetitive diet and exercise cycles only to end up heavier in the long run. Diets can force the body to lose weight in the short term, but chronic dieting doesn't keep weight off long term for the majority of dieters and often leads to even MORE weight gain.
To understand why diets don't work – you need to know about how metabolism works.
The metabolism is regulated by a complex feedback loop where the brain is the CEO and the body communicates through hormone messengers. When the system works, the body INFORMS the brain that the body is not in danger of starving and the brain keeps the weight and appetite in balance.
But many people are genetically vulnerable to glitches causing their brain to perceive starvation which forces the body to store fat for protection. This is called metabolic dysfunction. And decades of research proves deprivation diets AMPLIFY the glitches, slowing metabolism by 22% within 6 weeks and 36% within 6 months.
KING 5: When did you realize that there was more to weight loss than calories in, calories out?
Dr. Cooper: Years ago I noticed similarities between my patients with anorexia and those with obesity. Both brains were producing powerful starvation signals In anorexia – the body was malnourished with low body mass. In obesity, due to glitches the brain perceived starvation and produced the same starvation chemistry, triggering the body to store fat for protection.
KING 5: If diets don't work – what does?
Dr. Cooper: To keep your metabolism be as healthy as possible sleep 8 hours, eat all food groups every few hours, fuel your exercise and avoid chemicals in the food supply.
The American Heart Association and American Medical Association classify obesity as a ‘multi-metabolic hormonal disease state' – big words but accurate. For most people, medical intervention is needed to open up the pathway and assure the brain the body is not starving. Unfortunately there's still a knowledge gap in medical training and practice when it comes to metabolism so it will take time for science-based effective treatment to be readily available.
That's why I wrote the book and established The Diabesity Research Foundation. All proceeds go to this non-profit effort to increase access to effective science-based treatment for those suffering from or at risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
