Overview

• New research warns against 'yo-yo dieting', a cycle of losing and regaining weight, due to its negative psychological and interpersonal impacts.
• Participants in the study reported starting diets not for health reasons, but due to social pressure and comparisons with celebrities and peers.
• Regaining weight often led to feelings of shame and internalized stigma, driving individuals to engage in more extreme dieting behaviors.
• Those who were successful in breaking the cycle focused on health rather than weight, and embraced healthy eating behaviors instead of restrictive diets.
• Despite efforts to break the cycle, the majority of participants remained stuck due to societal expectations, toxic diet culture, and pervasive weight stigma.