4 Science-Backed Reasons You’re Struggling to Lose Weight

Losing weight is much easier said than done. Whether you have a ways to go to reach your goal or you’re just trying to get that last 5 or 10 pounds off, sometimes it can seem like everything is working against you. And research says it’s not just in your head.

A study published in the journal Obesity Research & Clinical Practice found that, even when people eat and drink the same amount of calories as those in the 1970s, they are still heavier by 10 percent. The researchers of the study found that the factors involved in this outcome involve chemical-ridden personal care products, our food and an increased level of stress. “We’re finding that weight management is much more complex than just energy in versus energy out,” notes the study author Jennifer Kuk, professor of health science at York University.

So, if you’re feeling like no matter what you do, dropping pounds is an uphill battle, then rest assured there are scientific reasonings behind it. Check out these four reasons for why you might be having difficulty.

1. Endocrine Disruptors

Eating clean and being mindful of exposure to chemicals is great, but sometimes it’s near impossible to totally avoid them. Your hormones can be affected by such things as pesticides, flame-retardants and preservatives, which can result in weight gain. A recent study published in the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease on mice discovered that exposure to two endocrine disruptors called bisphenol A (BPA) or ethinyl estradiol (EE ) in the womb can cause a decrease in metabolic rate and a lower level of activity in the offspring.

So what can you do to avoid this? Be mindful of any and all products that surround you, including your vinyl shower curtain and plastic containers. Switch to BPA-free products and glass containers.

2. Extra Weight

A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that those who need to lose the most weight have the toughest time doing so. In the study, scientists reviewed the electronic health records of over 250,000 people in a nine-year period, and discovered that people with a BMI between 30 and 35 were least likely to achieve a five percent weight loss in a year. Even more alarming, one in 10 women and one in 12 men actually succeeded in that five percent drop. Of those who succeeded, 50 percent regained it all back in two years.

To fix this, try setting smaller weight loss goals as opposed to one immense one. Doing so can help motivate you to stick with it as the small successes come your way.

3. Diet Fads

If you find that you’re always on a diet as opposed to finding a healthy balance, you might notice that little to no results are being made. One study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dieting can interrupt hunger-related hormones, enabling them to exist at different levels. The outcome can cause you to constantly feel famished, which in turn will have you consuming more calories than you need to shed the pounds you want.

To avoid this, be mindful of diet fads and do everything you can to stay away from them. Proper eating habits are a way of life, but it doesn’t have to mean eating boring, flavorless food. For proof, check out the BodyRock Meal Plan! This 30 day menu planner also comes with a detailed nutrition guide and an added recipe book with over 70 offerings! It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle!

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4. Too Much Exercise

Exercising regularly is no doubt an intricate piece of the weight loss puzzle, however, if you’re consistently taking on rigorous workouts, you could be working against your goal. A review of studies published in the journal Obesity Reviews discovered that people burn up less energy than they imagined they would when they took on weight loss programs that were focused mainly on exercise, and instead, they tend to consume more calories.

Rather than focus on one more than the other when it comes to a “program,” try to keep it balanced between your movement and healthy eating. A recent  meta-analysis published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics confirms this idea, as they found that when people stuck to programs that included both exercise and a healthy diet, they had better weight loss results.

Have you been struggling to lose weight and think that any of these four reasons may be why?

Source: Prevention

 

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