Weight control: Why traditional diets often fail
Dear Patients,
The desire to lose weight is widespread. Many people report that short-term diets initially lead to measurable weight loss, but that this is rarely permanent. Often, weight is regained after weeks or months. This phenomenon is often interpreted as a lack of discipline, but from a medical point of view, this explanation falls short.
Weight development is dependent on metabolism
Weight development is dependent on metabolism
Human metabolism is subject to individual differences. The decisive factor is which energy sources the body uses to meet its daily needs. While some people mainly use fat for energy, the metabolism of others is more focused on carbohydrates. These differences have far-reaching effects on feelings of hunger, performance and body weight regulation.
Fat versus carbohydrate burning
A metabolically active person with a high fat burning rate uses both ingested fats and the body’s own fat reserves efficiently for energy. This is often accompanied by:
- less feeling of hunger
- faster and longer-lasting satiety
- stable physical and mental performance
If, on the other hand, the metabolism relies primarily on carbohydrates, these are consumed quickly. As a result, hunger signals return more quickly. Excess energy is preferentially stored in fat reserves via the liver. Endurance performance is limited and the metabolism works more economically overall.
Why calorie reduction can block metabolism
When a person with a carbohydrate-dominant metabolism starts a classic diet and significantly reduces their calorie intake, the body adapts to the perceived shortage. Energy consumption is reduced, fat reserves are conserved and muscle protein is increasingly used for energy instead.
These adaptation mechanisms lead to:
- a further slowing of the metabolism
- the breakdown of muscle mass
- an increased likelihood of regaining weight
From a physiological point of view, the so-called yo-yo effect is therefore not a malfunction, but a protective function of the body.
The role of metabolic analysis
A differentiated metabolic analysis, as is known from competitive sports medicine, enables an objective assessment of the current metabolic status. It shows the extent to which fat or carbohydrates are used for energy production and how active the metabolism is overall.
On this basis, individual recommendations on nutrition and exercise can be derived. These aim to:
promote fat burning
stabilise the metabolism
prevent muscle loss
enable long-term weight control
Individual strategies instead of blanket diets
At the Alpstein Clinic, individual nutrition and training concepts are developed based on diagnostic results, tailored to the physiological requirements of each individual. These concepts are implemented in the form of a personalised three-month nutrition and training plan.
The plan is designed to be suitable for everyday use, takes real nutritional options into account and allows for deviations without putting additional strain on the metabolism. The aim is to support fat burning, prevent muscle loss and enable sustainable weight control.
Dr. med. Günther Bauer
We look forward to meeting you in person
The Alpstein Clinic uses targeted diagnostics and individually tailored recommendations to help you better understand your metabolism and influence your weight development in a targeted manner. This enables you to achieve sustainable weight control without the yo-yo effect and unnecessary muscle loss.
We are happy to take the time for a personal consultation to understand your individual requirements and health goals.
