Explain the Maintenance of Weight Loss?
Once an individual has managed to lose weight to a desirable level, it must not be assumed that the weight loss will be maintained automatically. The person will have to make a conscientious effort to prevent gain in weight. You will recall that energy requirements are reduced after weight is lost. After the intense dietary effort is over and the person reverts to the so called pre- dieting eating pattern, he/she is likely to put all the weight back before equilibrium is re-established.
To avoid this weight cycling, one must add extra food items to the diet only gradually and with extreme caution. The person still needs to avoid high calorie recipes. He/she must keep a record of weight every week. Any extra weight gained during this period, however small, must be lost immediately either by reducing food intake or increasing energy expenditure the following week. The person must not reduce the physical activity once he/she attains the goal. You must remember that there is a reduction in metabolic rate after weight loss which is also conducive to subsequent weight gain on the same energy diet. To remain at the target weight the person will need to, in fact, reduce energy intake by 10-15% which is the maintenance energy cost of the weight lost.