But why does weight loss plateau occur?
When we significantly reduce our food intake, our body perceives it as a potential threat to survival. Instead of saying: Great, now we'll lose weight and move more easily, it does the opposite. It switches to energy-saving mode, trying to preserve as much energy as possible. Even if you eat less, the body starts using even less. The heart beats slower, body temperature drops slightly, digestion slows down, muscles consume less energy... In short, the body activates all alarms, as if a winter without supplies is coming.
According to the Mayo Clinic, on average, metabolism can slow down by 10 to 20% when calories are drastically reduced. In some people, it can slow down by up to 30%!
Why is this important for new weight loss medications?
In recent years, many people have been taking medications such as Wegovy or Ozempic, originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, which are now often used to aid in weight loss. The use of these medications can help reduce appetite, and as a result, people may lose up to 20 to 25% of their body weight. However, the effect often stalls afterwards.
Scientists are now researching whether this brake, which is essentially the body's defense mechanism, can be somehow turned off to keep metabolism working at full speed even when eating less. And this is where things get interesting.
Surprising discovery in mice: when the liver forgets it's starving
Scientists from the prestigious university in Texas made a surprising discovery while studying a specific gene in mice (the gene is called Plvap). This gene plays a significant role in the liver, more precisely in special cells called stellate cells. These are cells that typically act as caretakers of the liver - they assist in regeneration, vitamin A storage, and detoxification.
When this gene was turned off in mice, their livers stopped sensing starvation. Consequently, they continued to behave as if there was enough food, even when there wasn’t. Instead of switching to efficient fat burning (as usual during fasting), the livers continued burning all available carbohydrate reserves.
So: without this gene, the body does not sense starvation.
And most interestingly – despite this, the mice were still losing weight, had lower blood sugar, greater insulin sensitivity, and had no adverse effects.
What does this mean for us?
If we could also ensure in humans that the liver forgets it's starving, we might be able to:
- extend the effectiveness of weight loss medications,
- avoid the classic plateau effect when weight loss stops,
- improve the body's sensitivity to insulin and thus reduce the risk of diabetes.
These are, of course, early studies conducted on mice, but in science, this is a significant step. Let us remember that even insulin – a crucial medication for millions of people today – was once developed based on trials conducted on dogs.
How they used to manipulate metabolism in the past
Traditional medicine has known for centuries how to boost the body's metabolism. Our ancestors didn't speak of calories, genes, and livers, but they said: If you want to lose weight, you need to warm up your blood. And this was often done with bitter herbs, warm teas, physical work, and fasting.
Hawthorn, wormwood, sage, and especially nettle... These are plants that, according to folklore, invigorate the blood. Nettle, for example, contains iron, vitamin C, calcium, and silicon, while also acting as a mild diuretic, helping the body get rid of excess water.
Fasting regimens were also common. Not because people wanted to lose weight, but because food was not always abundant. And when we talk about intermittent fasting today, we may think it's a new trend, although it's just an evolved ancient wisdom.
What do modern studies say?
Research from Harvard Medical School confirms that the body is incredibly adaptable. When calories are reduced, energy expenditure also drops. In one study, it was found that people who rapidly lost weight (e.g., 10 to 15% in a few months) could also burn 300 to 500 fewer calories per day than before. Simply because the body tries to save energy.
This means that despite the same habits – exercise, diet, and sleep – weight loss can plateau. And this is where the new discoveries about the liver could bring a revolution.
What can you do?
Although we cannot yet buy a pill that would turn off the metabolic brake, there are practical things you can try right now:
- Vary your eating patterns. Instead of a monotonous diet, try eating more for a few days, then less, so the body doesn't become too predictable.
- Incorporate more exercise, especially strength training. More muscles mean more energy expenditure even at rest.
- Drink herbal teas that promote digestion. Sage, dandelion, artichoke, and ginger are not only for taste but also for igniting the digestive fire, as our ancestors would say.
- Make sleep a priority. Less than 6 hours of sleep per night means more cortisol (stress hormone), which slows down metabolism. A study from the University of Chicago showed that people who sleep less also burn up to 300 fewer calories a day – due to a slower metabolism.
And an interesting fact: muscles and sugar
The above-mentioned discovery also revealed something: that the body can now redirect fats away from the liver and towards the muscles, improving the response to insulin. This is crucial because liver fat accumulation is a silent health enemy. According to the World Health Organization, 25% of the global population has some form of fatty liver. Even in people who are not overweight!
So this is not just a matter of weight loss, but also of overall health.
And finally: Remember – your body is not sabotaging you but trying to protect you. Recall the old folk wisdom: A wise person teaches the body that it is not the master but the servant.
New findings suggest that perhaps one day we can tell our bodies: You don't have to fear – just help me live better. And although there is no miracle pill yet, you can decide today to become the main director of your metabolism with smart decisions and the help of ancient folk wisdom.
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