Weight Regain After Weight Loss: The Genetics

Major factors affecting weight regain

Weight regain after significant weight loss is a common concern and challenge for many individuals.

The reasons behind this phenomenon are multi-faceted, encompassing both biological and behavioral aspects.

Here are some of the common causes:

Metabolic adaptations

After significant weight loss, your body can undergo metabolic changes that lead to a lower resting metabolic rate (RMR).

This means that your body burns fewer calories at rest than it did prior to weight loss.

This metabolic slowdown can make weight maintenance difficult, increasing the likelihood of weight regain.

Changes in hunger and satiety hormones

Weight loss can lead to increased levels of hunger hormones like ghrelin and decreased levels of satiety hormones like leptin.

This can make individuals feel hungrier and less satisfied after meals, thereby increasing the probability of overeating and subsequent weight regain.

Return to old habits

Without long-term lifestyle changes, it’s easy to slip back into old eating and exercise habits after weight loss, leading to weight regain.

Weight Regain After Weight Loss: The Genetics

The tendency to regain weight after losing it can be traced back to our evolutionary past. When food was scarce, the ability to store excess calories as fat was advantageous.

This “thrifty gene” hypothesis suggests that during times of famine, individuals who could efficiently store fat had a survival advantage.

Today, we live in an environment with ample food supply.

However, our bodies are still wired to store excess energy and resist energy deficits.

When we lose weight, our bodies can perceive this as a threat and respond by slowing metabolism and increasing hunger signals to encourage weight regain.

The Role Of Genetics In Weight Regain

Genetics play a substantial role in our bodies’ weight regulation mechanisms, including the predisposition to regain weight after a period of weight loss.

This influence is multifaceted, impacting everything from our metabolic rate to our satiety signals and even our taste preferences.

SNP (gene)	Influence	Effect on your body
rs9939609 (FTO)	Associated with higher BMI, increased risk of obesity, and a preference for energy-dense foods.	The FTO gene has been linked to fat mass and obesity. Variations may affect energy homeostasis and control of food intake, making weight loss maintenance challenging.
rs17782313 (MC4R)	Variants in MC4R are associated with increased BMI and obesity risk.	MC4R encodes the melanocortin-4 receptor, which is involved in appetite regulation. Certain variants may increase appetite and energy intake.
rs1801253 (ADRB1)	Associated with Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) and energy expenditure.	ADRB1 encodes a protein involved in the breakdown of fat cells and regulation of heart rate. Variations can affect metabolic rate and energy balance.
rs7799039 (LEP)	Variants can impact leptin production and signaling.	Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells that helps regulate body weight by signaling satiety to the brain. Variants can disrupt this signaling, potentially leading to overeating.
rs1761667 (CD36)	This SNP is associated with fat taste perception.	CD36 is a receptor involved in fat taste perception. Variants can increase the preference for and consumption of high-fat foods, contributing to weight gain.
rs6265 (BDNF)	BDNF variants are associated with eating behaviors and BMI.	BDNF is involved in neuroplasticity and memory formation. Variants may affect eating behavior and food intake regulation, contributing to weight regain.
rs1805081 (MTHFR)	Associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.	MTHFR is involved in the conversion of homocysteine to methionine, a vital metabolic process. Variants can impact metabolic health and potentially contribute to weight regain.
rs4923461 (BDKRB2)	Associated with weight gain and obesity.	BDKRB2 is involved in the regulation of body fluid and electrolyte balance. Variants may influence weight gain and obesity.

It’s important to note that the influence of these individual genetic variations on weight regain is generally modest and likely depends on the interaction with environmental factors such as diet and physical activity, and other genetic factors.

DISCLAIMER: If you’re interested in understanding your genetic predispositions, consult with a healthcare professional or a genetic counselor who can provide advice and interpretation based on your complete genetic profile and lifestyle factors.

Influence on Metabolism

Research has shown that certain genetic variations can affect our resting metabolic rate (RMR), or the number of calories our bodies burn at rest.

Variations in genes like FTO, MC4R, and others have been linked to a higher BMI and obesity by affecting the body’s metabolic rate and energy expenditure.

For instance, if someone has a naturally lower RMR due to their genetic makeup, they may be more likely to regain weight after a diet, even if they continue to eat in a calorie-restricted manner.

Check your AncestryDNA, 23andMe raw data for the FTO & MC4R gene variants

Satiety and Hunger Signals

Genetics also influence our hunger and satiety hormones.

For example, variations in the leptin gene can affect leptin production or its receptor’s function, leading to leptin resistance.

Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells that signals satiety to the brain.

If leptin signaling is impaired, individuals may not feel satisfied after eating, which could contribute to overeating and subsequent weight regain.

Check your AncestryDNA, 23andMe raw data for the LEP gene variants

Taste Preferences and Eating Behavior

Genetics also impact our taste preferences, influencing our propensity to overeat or favor high-calorie foods.

For instance, some people may be genetically predisposed to have a heightened preference for sweet or fatty foods.

This genetic predisposition, combined with an environment rich in highly palatable, calorie-dense foods, can increase the risk of weight regain after weight loss.

Check your AncestryDNA, 23andMe raw data for the CD36 gene variants

Psychological Factors

Finally, genetic factors can also influence psychological aspects related to eating behavior.

This includes a propensity towards emotional eating or addictive behaviors towards food, both of which can contribute to weight regain.

Epigenetics

While these genetic factors can predispose individuals to regain weight after weight loss, it’s important to stress that genes are not destiny.

Epigenetics, the study of how behavior and environment can cause changes that affect the way genes work, has shown that lifestyle factors can indeed influence gene expression.

Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, stress management, and quality sleep can all interact with our genetics and positively affect our weight and health.

Section Summary

Moreover, it’s essential to recognize the importance of personalized nutrition and lifestyle interventions considering our unique genetic makeup.

In the future, as our understanding of genetics continues to grow, it will be increasingly possible to design personalized weight management strategies that account for individual genetic predispositions, increasing their efficacy and sustainability.

What is Weight Cycling

Weight cycling, also known as “yo-yo dieting,” is a pattern of losing and gaining weight repeatedly. Weight cycling can lead to negative health outcomes, including an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders.

Moreover, some research suggests that weight cycling may make future weight loss attempts more difficult and may increase the propensity for weight regain.

This could be due to physiological changes, such as alterations in metabolism and body composition, as well as psychological factors, like decreased motivation and self-efficacy.

Tendency To Regain Weight: Listening to your DNA

Despite the challenges, weight regain can be mitigated or prevented. Here are some strategies:

Maintain a consistent eating pattern

Adopt a healthy eating plan that can be maintained long-term, rather than a restrictive diet that’s hard to stick with.

Regular physical activity

Regular exercise, especially resistance and high-intensity interval training, can help maintain a higher metabolic rate and prevent weight regain.

Mindful eating

Being aware of hunger and fullness cues, and avoiding emotional or mindless eating, can help with weight management.

Seek support

Whether it’s from a registered dietitian, a psychologist, or a support group, having a network of support can be helpful in maintaining weight loss.

Takeaway

Weight regain after weight loss is common and can be influenced by various factors, including metabolic adaptations, changes in hunger and satiety hormones, and return to old habits.

Evolutionary and genetic factors also contribute to this tendency.

Weight cycling or yo-yo dieting can exacerbate the problem, but there

Cited Work

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Loos RJ, et al. (2008). “Common variants near MC4R are associated with fat mass, weight and risk of obesity.” Nature Genetics, 40(6), 768-775. Link
Yamada Y, et al. (2002). “Genetic variation in the beta1-adrenergic receptor gene and obesity.” The American Journal of Human Genetics, 70(3), 722-732. Link
Farooqi IS, et al. (1997). “Effects of recombinant leptin therapy in a child with congenital leptin deficiency.” The New England Journal of Medicine, 341(12), 879-884. Link
Pepino MY, et al. (2012). “The fatty acid translocase gene CD36 and lingual lipase influence oral sensitivity to fat in obese subjects.” Journal of Lipid Research, 53(3), 561-566. Link
Shugart YY, et al. (2009). “A family-based study of the association between the BDNF gene and major depressive disorder in a Chinese Han population.” Biological Psychiatry, 66(5), 490-494. Link
Wilson PW, et al. (1999). “Common variants in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene are associated with obesity in adolescents.” Journal of Nutrition, 129(2), 428-433. Link
Li B, et al. (2015). “BDKRB2 +9/-9 polymorphism is associated with higher risk for diabetes mellitus in the Chinese Han population.” Molecular Biology Reports, 42(1), 141-145. Link