weight loss and set points

I have had many patents ask me whether we are born with some type of predetermined, genetically mandated weight "setpoint". These patients have told me that no matter what they do, how much weight they have lost, what diets they have tried, they seem, over time, to drift back to the same weight.

I do not believe this is true at all. What I do believe is that people develop certain behavioral tendencies as this relates to eating and exercising behaviors. At times, people will purposefully change their behavior patterns to lose weight (a "diet"), but then over time, will resume old eating and exercising behavior patterns. The weight then goes back to what they feel is some "setpoint". Yes, it is a setpoint, but it is NOT predetermined by some third party...it is determined by people's behavior patterns. Now, if we are to believe that people cannot change their behavior patterns, then there is , in fact, a setpoint. However, I believe that behavior patterns CAN be changed permanently. This is not easy of course, but most certainly possible. YOU are in control of your behavior patterns, not some unknown entity that has "preprogrammed" you. TAKE THIS CONTROL and prove to yorself that there is no such thing as a "setpoint".

weight and "set points"

I often have patients ask me whether there is some predetermined "set-point" that a person's weight will go to no matter what they do in the short term. If that person "diets" the weight will go down but then over time, the weight seems to drift back up to the number that has been present previously. No matter what that person does in the short term, the weight always seems to go back up to that overweight number that prompts the person to feel frustrated.

I propose to you this: Behavior patterns are the "set point", not the number on the scale. What I mean by this is that people develop behavioral patterns that become ingrained and although in the short term many people can alter these behavior patterns, the long term change in behavior is difficult. As this relates to weight, if in the short term, a person lowers carbs, exercises more, reduces alcohol consumption, etc, the weight will drop. However, if over time, the person reverts to old behavior patterns as that relates to eating, the weight goes back up.

So the point here is that there is no weight"set point", but rather there are behavioral "setpoints" that are difficult to change. For long term weight loss, it is the behaviors that must change permanently. Easy to do? Of course not. Can it be done? ABSOLUTELY