{"id":4142,"date":"2021-01-05T06:46:30","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T11:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chaneyhealth.com\/healthtips\/?p=4142"},"modified":"2020-11-19T21:17:50","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T02:17:50","slug":"is-losing-weight-getting-harder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chaneyhealth.com\/healthtips\/is-losing-weight-getting-harder\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Losing Weight Getting Harder?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why Is Weight Loss More Difficult Than It Used to Be?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Author: Dr. Stephen Chaney<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>If you are one of the millions of Americans who set a New Year\u2019s goal of losing weight and eating healthier, you are to be congratulated.<\/p>\n

However, if you are like many Americans, you are probably asking yourself \u201cIs losing weight getting harder, or is it just my imagination?\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are asking yourself \u201cIs losing weight getting harder than the first time I went on a weight loss diet?\u201d, the answer to that question is a clear yes. It has to do with the perils of yo-yo dieting.<\/p>\n

But here is the question that most of you never thought to ask: \u201cIs losing weight getting harder than it was for my parents and grandparents?\u201d<\/p>\n

If this study (RE Brown et al, Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 10: 243-255, 2016<\/a>) is correct, the answer to that question is also yes.<\/p>\n

How Was The Study Done?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Clinical<\/a>The authors used data from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), which is conducted by the CDC on an ongoing basis. For those not familiar with this program, here is a description of the NHANES program from the CDC website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States.<\/p>\n

The survey examines a nationally representative sample of about 5,000 people per round, with 2-year data sets available for analysis. These people are located in counties across the country.<\/p>\n

The NHANES interview includes demographic, socioeconomic, dietary, and health-related questions. The examination component consists of medical, dental, and physiological measurements, as well as laboratory tests administered by highly trained medical personnel.<\/p>\n

All participants visit the physician. Dietary interviews and body measurements are included for everyone. All but the very young have a blood sample taken and have a dental screening. Depending on the age of the participant, the rest of the examination includes tests to assess various aspects of health. In general, the older the individual, the more extensive the examination.<\/p>\n

Health interviews are conducted in respondents\u2019 homes. Health measurements are performed in specially-designed and equipped mobile centers, which travel to locations throughout the country. The study team consists of a physician, medical and health technicians, and dietary and health interviewers.\u201d<\/p>\n

In short, the NHANES dataset represents a valuable source of data for this kind of study in that it provides a 2-year snapshots of the health and nutritional status of the American population over many decades.<\/p>\n

The authors of this study looked at the association between total caloric intake and diet composition with BMI (body mass index a measure of obesity) at 2-year intervals between 1971 and 2008. There were 36,377 US adults in this part of the study.<\/p>\n

Because physical activity was only part of the NHANES dataset between 1988 and 2006, the correlation of physical activity with BMI was measured at 2-year intervals between 1988 and 2006. There were 14,419 adults in this part of the study.<\/p>\n

Is Losing Weight Getting Harder?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Question<\/a>The study showed:<\/p>\n