The most basic weight-loss advice usually boils down to the fewer calories we consume, the more weight we will lose. But for most people who have tried calorie-restricted diets, seeing the number on the scales not budging is frustratingly common. For many, the instinct is to get even stricter, continually cutting calories. But this isn’t the answer for your health or for weight management. In fact, it can backfire badly.
There are many mechanisms behind why restrictive dieting doesn’t work, but one important factor is our body adapts to less energy intake by slowing down our metabolism.
The idea that there is an ideal amount of energy to be getting from food for optimal metabolic function is behind an emerging trend called reverse dieting.
While reverse dieting isn’t new on the bodybuilding or
