Research

Hormonal

Higher baseline plasma concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), specifically PFOS and PFNA, are associated with greater weight regain during the 6-24 month period following a diet-induced weight loss, primarily in women.

If you are struggling to maintain weight loss, especially as a woman, be aware that environmental chemicals like PFAS (found in non-stick cookware, food packaging, and some water supplies) may blunt your metabolic recovery. This doesn't mean you should stop trying, but it highlights why standard diets might feel harder to maintain for some. Focus on building lean muscle mass to boost RMR, as this study suggests PFAS specifically blunts the natural increase in RMR that usually helps prevent weight regain.

GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
In this diet-induced weight-loss trial, higher baseline plasma PFAS concentrations were associated with a greater weight regain, especially in women, possibly explained by a slower regression of RMR levels.
Gang Liu et al. · PLoS Medicine · 2018

Why this rating

Prospective randomized clinical trial (POUNDS Lost) with rigorous adjustment for confounders, though observational in nature regarding PFAS levels.

Source

Perfluoroalkyl substances and changes in body weight and resting metabolic rate in response to weight-loss diets: A prospective study

Gang Liu et al. · PLoS Medicine · 2018

DOI 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002502

rct · n=621Cited 177×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →