dimagining too fast you risk recovering the lost kilos soon and adding more. It’s the well-known yo-yo effect. Now a study published on the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism explains why, starting from a survey of 28 obese children, aged 9-11, who followed a slimming cure for 6 months.
The yo-yo effect in children
Undergoing magnetic resonance imaging, the examination showed that the brain areas that trigger hunger are activated even when images of high-calorie foods are seen after a meal. «The satiety hormones produced by the stomach and intestines send the saturation signal to the brainbut can’t read it. And it stimulates the child to eat again» explains Mariacarolina Salerno, president of Italian Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology.
Lose weight slowly
«The study was conducted on a few children, but it already gives a useful suggestion: aEven after losing weight, food is a temptation and it is necessary to build defense strategieshow to keep busy and get rid of the most appetizing foods, after having finished eating, to resist ».
To get the brain used to reacting differently, weight loss «should take place in 1-2 yearssays Salerno. But what needs to be done to deal with childhood obesity? «It should be considered whether to have him examined also by the pediatric endocrinologist.
In addition to bad eating habits, for which the nutritionist is needed, obesity can depend on a genetic syndrome, or an endocrine disease» concludes the expert.
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