Yo-yo dieting increases risk of heart-related death

By TC Newman, Buzz60

Studies now show the diet cycles we put ourselves through can have a major effect on our hearts.

The American Heart Association just released over 11 years of observational research that may shock the public.

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While obesity can create many health concerns, yo-yo dieting women who fall in the "normal" BMI range are susceptible to another health crisis.

Women who weight cycle, or yo-yo diet, are three and a half times more likely to die from sudden cardiac arrest than those who have maintained a stable weight.

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Yo-yo dieting can have drastic effects on hydration, muscle mass, and metabolism, which may lead to the increased heart risks.

Apart from the weight gained and lost during pregnancy, researchers considered weight cycling to be the repeated fluctuation of 10 pounds or more in either direction.

This increase in heart-related death did not relate to women who gained weight, but did not lose it, or those who lost weight, but did not gain it back.

Heart disease is already the leading cause of mortality for women in the United States, accounting for 1 in 4 deaths.

Men also saw negative effects from weight cycling, but not as significantly as women.