Why your 'fat cell memory' could be the reason you can’t keep weight off

If you’re someone who’s always struggled with their weight, hearing the words “diets don’t work! If you want to be part of the estimated 15 to 20 per cent of people who do manage to keep large amounts of weight off long term, you’re going to have to work extra hard for it: studies show that “fat cell memory” can make the body nostalgic for its previous, bigger size and will do all it can to get back there – regardless of how you lost weight in the first place. “For a long time, this has been explained as the body having a ‘metabolic set point’ – such that every time weight is gained and then lost – the body will do everything it can to get back to that previous higher weight.” Dr Watson believes that adjusting our mindsets can certainly help. “And much like every other chronic disease we manage in general practice – asthma, diabetes, hypertension, for example – the treatment for that is lifelong.” open image in gallery Mohan taking part in the London Marathon This means that gaining weight after treating weight loss, whether that loss came via Ozempic, Mounjaro, bariatric surgery or simply calorie deficit, is pretty likely for many people – but that doesn’t mean you should give up; especially, if you believe that you would feel happier and healthier at a lower weight. “It’s a hugely exciting and evolving area of research and GLP-1 drugs are one of the most exciting pharmacological treatments we’ve seen for obesity.” While maintaining a healthier size might be harder for some of us than others, it doesn’t mean that losing weight is a big, fat waste of time.