Drastically restricting certain foods on a temporary basis—otherwise known as “crash dieting”—is a typical strategy for weight loss. But such extreme short-term strategies could end up backfiring.
One study found overweight mice that had successfully slimmed down through dieting developed a persistent gut microbiota pattern that actually contributed to faster weight regain once they resumed a normal diet. Furthermore, the extent of the animals’ weight regain after the crash diet was predictable, based on how their gut microbiota looked.
All of this is to say: you’re probably better off forgoing drastic dietary changes and sticking to lifestyle changes you can maintain in the long run.
To learn more, check out: A Gut Feeling About Body Weight
Kristina Campbell, MSc, author of The Well-Fed Microbiome Cookbook (Rockridge Press), is a science writer specializing in bacteria and the gut microbiome. She lives in Victoria, BC.
Alexa Everett
Carime Lane
Adam Meyer
Emilie Richardson-Dupuis