Diet Docs Weigh-in: Yo-Yo? No-No
Dr. David J. Demko, gerontologist
AgeVenture News Service 03-02-15
The quest for a fashion model's figure leads many women to a cycle of weight loss and weight gain called yo-yo dieting. Researchers at the University of Michigan have linked yo-yo dieting to poor post-menopause heart health. As as result, UM is cautioning all women who yo-yo diet. Those who gain and/or lose at least 10 pounds in a year-long period at least five times over a lifetime may be setting themselves up for heart problems after menopause. UM Cardiologist Claire Duvernoy found that post-menopausal yo-yo dieters were much more likely to have reduced myocardial blood flow, regardless of current weight.
Reduced blood flow to the heart could be an indication of a blockage in coronary arteries, or in the small blood vessels of the heart, which could eventually trigger a heart attack or stroke," warns Duvernoy. Hey, what about guys ??? !!! Yes, both men and women need to use caution and exercise sound preventative care. This study, however, focuses on women because more U.S. women than men die of heart disease every year.
How can someone avoid this post-menopause health problem? The best way, says Duvernoy, is to recognize early that yo-yo dieting is not a good tool for long-term health. "Physicians of all kinds are saying this over and over, because it is the best advice: eating nutritious foods in moderation and getting moderate exercise several times a week is really the best way to stay healthy over a lifetime. Nature doesn't intend for each and every one of us to have a model-perfect figure; it's far more important to make healthy choices about food and exercise," Duvernoy says. By the way, if it has been a long time since you ate responsibly, I've included a picture (photo left) of what
healthy eating looks like. Those 5, food groups that is, will keep you feeling and looking good. Most importantly,
those 5 will keep you alive a lot longer.
In a second study of post-menopausal women, Duvernoy found that women with high cholesterol and at least one other risk factor for heart disease also had less blood flow in their heart if they did not have the habit of routine, moderate exercise. Generally speaking, these women would be described as healthy but at high risk for heart disease.
In that second study, researchers measured the blood flow to their heart. The women also reported their health habits, including exercise and its frequency. They fell into two groups: those who exercise at least twice a week for at least 20 minutes per session, and those who exercised less. "We found a significant difference in blood flow between the women who exercise regularly and those who didn't," Duvernoy says.
Although women live longer than men, their death is usually related to cardiovascular disease. Scientists are still not sure why this is. However, they do know that the natural estrogen level in a woman's body is associated with healthy cholesterol. After menopause, the natural estrogen levels go down, and along with it goes the protection that natural estrogen provides. So, women's risk for heart disease goes up.
While high cholesterol alone is a risk factor for heart disease, the risk is even greater when someone has one or more of these risk factors as well:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Family history of heart disease
"The common sense conclusion should be that moderate physical activity helps to protect your heart and it may help to normalize the blood flow in the heart. Post-menopausal women who don't exercise can still add exercise to their weekly routine in order to promote a healthy cardiovascular system," says Duvernoy. In the opinion of AgeVenture News, the quest for a "figure to die for" might be just that.
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