Can't Lose Weight Anymore? When Surgery Is the Alternative to Dieting

Losing weight quickly and visibly through dieting is relatively easy. The real challenge, however, lies in maintaining your target weight over the long term. This is because many diets are based on a drastic reduction in calories, which is anything but sustainable. Those who are highly motivated at the start and stick strictly to the plan can usually expect rapid weight loss.

Once the goal is reached, motivation often wanes quickly. This is because many diets aren’t designed to foster long-term behavioral change, and people quickly fall back into “old patterns.” In addition to reverting to old eating habits, strict diets often lead to cravings that are frequently difficult to control and jeopardize the diet’s success.

The infamous yo-yo effect

However, the fact that weight loss stops isn’t just due to relapsing into unhealthy eating habits. In a way, it’s also a natural reaction of the body. This is because the body responds to reduced calorie intake by slowing down the metabolism to conserve energy. As a result, the body may burn calories less efficiently after the diet. If there is a sudden calorie surplus after the diet, the body tends to store the excess energy as fat—especially when the metabolism is still in “energy-saving mode.” 

In addition, many diets lead to a loss of muscle mass due to insufficient protein intake. Since muscles consume more energy than fat tissue, daily energy expenditure decreases. This lower basal metabolic rate often results in regaining weight more quickly after the diet.

The Role of Fat Cells

Another hurdle to maintaining your target weight appears to be the “memory” of fat cells. This is shown by a new study from ETH Zurich, published in the journal *Nature*. Scientists discovered that being overweight leaves lasting traces—so-called epigenetic marks—in fat cells. These marks persist even after weight loss. These marks allow fat cells to “remember” the state of being overweight and return to it more quickly. They are, in effect, programmed to quickly store fat again when calorie intake increases.

One thing is certain: Short-term diets are rarely effective in the long run. To lose weight successfully and maintain it over the long term, a permanent change in diet and regular exercise are essential. In some cases—especially with severe obesity—conservative therapies alone are not enough. In such cases, weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery) can be a sensible solution.

The most common procedures are:

• gastric bypass
• gastric sleeve (gastric reduction)
• gastric banding, in which parts of the stomach are constricted
• biliopancreatic diversion

These minimally invasive procedures aim to achieve long-term weight loss by altering the digestive tract. The combination of surgery and lifestyle changes is particularly promising for severely obese individuals. With the right follow-up care and support, their quality of life can be significantly improved.

It is crucial that the procedure be performed by an experienced specialist. Only with the necessary expertise can it be ensured that the procedure is carried out safely and effectively. In addition, comprehensive follow-up care and support are essential to minimize potential postoperative complications and successfully implement necessary lifestyle changes. That’s why you’ll find only experienced and reputable specialists in bariatric surgery on our site—for the best possible care!