Losing weight and regaining it has long been blamed for harming metabolism and heart health. But a sweeping new review finds little evidence that weight cycling itself causes lasting damage in people with obesity, raising a more important question about what really drives risk. Losing weight, gaining it back, then trying again can feel exhausting. For many people, the emotional toll is just as heavy as the physical struggle. Over the years, repeated weight loss and regain, often called “yo-yo dieting” or weight cycling, earned a damaging reputation. Some experts warned it could permanently slow metabolism, increase fat gain and raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes. A new scientific review now challenges that belief. After examining decades of research in humans and animals, scientists concluded there is no convincing evidence that weight cycling itself causes lasting harm in people with obesity. Their message was direct and reassuring. Trying to lose weight, even if the weight later returns, appears far less harmful than many people once feared. Weight regain after weight loss (CREDIT: 1The …