For many frequent dieters, weight loss is a vicious cycle. The pounds melt away at first, but once they stray from their diet, all the weight that was lost makes a comeback.
This weight cycling, also known as "yo-yo" dieting, has been linked to everything from high blood pressure and high cholesterol to diabetes and depression. In fact, a 2006 review of the scientific evidence noted an association between weight fluctuations and cardiovascular disease and death.
However, experts say the news on weight cycling shouldn't discourage people from trying to lose weight. The U.S. National Task Force on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity found that, while conclusive data regarding the long-term health effects of weight cycling are lacking, the potential risks do not outweigh the potential benefits of weight loss in significantly obese patients.