Fat Cells Can Retain a Genetic Memory — Even After Weight Loss

Research shows that genetic reasons are why some dieters experience the Yo-Yo Effect.

By Paul Smaglik
Nov 27, 2024 8:00 PMNov 27, 2024 8:01 PM
Fat cell illustration
(Credit: ALIOUI MA/Shutterstock)

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Sometimes, good memory can be bad news.

It turns out fat cells have excellent memory. Researchers published a study in Nature that explains how that memory works and why it is so persistent. The work describes the genetic and cellular mechanisms that make the "Yo-Yo effect," a common phenomenon where a person can lose weight, but it returns right away.

The Persistence of Fat Cells

This result has especially profound implications in the U.S. where about 40 percent of adults are either overweight or obese. It may explain why diet and exercise alone often can’t help people maintain their weight loss. And it may indirectly be an argument in favor of drugs like Ozempic.

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