Skip to main content

Subtle Shifts, Lasting Weight

Image
By

Are brief periods of instability silently driving weight gain? A new study suggests so — and acupuncture may offer quiet protection.

Many assume that weight gain results from gradual, incremental habits — a slow, steady accumulation over time. But a recent study published in the International Journal of Obesity challenges this linear view. It uncovers something far more subtle: a substantial portion of fat gain occurs during brief, intense episodes — often unnoticed and almost always coinciding with periods of disruption. Holidays, job changes, illness, celebrations, or other transitional phases of life — these are the moments when energy balance is abruptly lost, caloric intake rises, and physical activity declines. Crucially, although these episodes are sporadic, their physiological impact can be long-lasting.

As an acupuncture physician, I regard acupuncture as a valuable tool for navigating such critical junctures. Regular sessions help regulate sleep cycles, modulate appetite, reduce emotional eating, manage anxiety, and maintain vital energy in balance. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, acupuncture strengthens the digestive system and stabilises the body’s central energy. From a Western medical standpoint, it supports neuroendocrine regulation and enhances the body’s self-regulatory mechanisms.

In this context, prevention goes beyond the daily scrutiny of one’s plate. It demands attentiveness to the subtle thresholds of transition — those psychological and physiological inflection points where life quietly shifts. Acupuncture may operate in silence, but its effects can be profound: it acts as a steadying force during upheaval, preserving balance when the familiar rhythm falters. After all, even small emotional storms can leave deep physiological marks if the body isn’t already fortified.

Reference: Speakman, J. R., Levitsky, D. A., & Westerterp, K. R. (2025). Lifestyle instability: an overlooked cause of population obesity? International Journal of Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-025-01787-5
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Subtle Daily Happiness

By
Happiness is a landscape hidden in the details. It does not arrive with trumpets, but in whispers: a ray of sunlight slipping through the window, the scent of morning coffee, the hush before a burst of laughter. We live in an age that mistakes happiness for grandeur, as if it depended on spectacular achievements or material possessions. Yet, its essence lies in the opposite—in the ability to notice what is already there, nearly invisible, yet full of meaning. There is an irony in this. While we chase ambitious goals—promotions, travels, recognition—we overlook what the philosopher Epicurus called “simple pleasures”: a conversation with a friend, the joy of an unhurried meal, the quiet sense of belonging when watching the sunset. Neuroscience reinforces this idea: small moments of connection or contemplation trigger neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, responsible for our sense of well-being. Happiness, then, is not a destination, but a way of walking. Part of its subtlety l...
Post a Comment
Read more

Balanced Progress

By
Acupuncture harmonises the body and mind, fostering mental clarity and emotional maturity. These benefits naturally support three fundamental pillars of human and social progress: understanding the world, self-reflection, and transforming knowledge into action. As a result, acupuncture patients often distinguish themselves in society, developing a broader perspective, making more conscious choices, and maintaining a balanced approach to life. The first pillar centres on expanding knowledge and deepening understanding of the world. Those who actively seek learning overcome limitations and drive transformation. However, stress and emotional burdens can obstruct this process, making it difficult to absorb new information and think critically. This ancient practice alleviates tension, improves mental clarity, and enhances cognitive receptiveness, allowing the mind to fully embrace new ideas and innovations. By fostering a sense of openness, acupuncture helps individuals perceiv...
Post a Comment
Read more

On Loyalty and the Quiet Companionship of Pippen

By
I have a cosmopolitan friend who, by the mercy of chance — that discreet and impartial arbiter of destinies — was born in Serbia. Industrious beyond measure, he treats work not merely as obligation but as a quiet philosophy, a means of aligning oneself with the silent order of things. And he is a companion of a rare kind: steadfast, discerning, and, above all, loyal. His name is Pippen. We first crossed paths in the now-vanished days of Google+ — that fleeting agora where, for a moment, the world’s geeks entertained the gentle delusion that they might, in time, inherit the Earth. It was an age of bright aspiration, tinged with naïveté, yet marked by a peculiar fellowship that transcended all borders and conventions. Among Pippen’s many virtues, loyalty stands pre-eminent. Not the clamorous, performative loyalty so fashionable in this restless age, but the quieter, unwavering kind — the loyalty of one who stays. It is revealed not in grand gestures but in small, consistent a...
Post a Comment
Read more