For decades, hospital physicians, outsourced physicians, and family physicians have advised patients that in order to lose weight, two key components must be addressed and managed; the age-old myth was that diet and exercise are essential for achieving weight loss.

However, new research in “The New England Journal of Medicine” has found that weight loss might not be as simple as that; it seems that hormones factor in to the equation more than those practicing physician services could have known.

“WebMD” recently reported that in a new study, “50 overweight or obese people went on a low-calorie diet for 10 weeks. Researchers measured levels of several key hormones involved in appetite control before they started the diet, after they completed the diet, and then again 62 weeks later. They found that changes in the hormonal mix tip the scale toward hunger and weight regain. Up to a year after weight loss, there are increases in the “hunger hormone” ghrelin and reductions in other hormones such as leptin that could promote weight gain.”

“The findings explain why most people find it difficult to maintain weight loss long-term,” said Joseph Proietto, a researcher who contributed to the study. “It may also explain why public health measures adopted so far have generally failed to reduce obesity prevalence.”

“WebMD” added that “several medications are being studied that may help combat some of these hormonal changes.”

But results from this study should not sway people from eating healthy and exercising, as those two components remain key in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

“Until we have appetite suppressants that are safe to use long-term, studies show that the following behaviors are associated with better weight loss maintenance: weigh yourself regularly; eat breakfast; exercise at least one hour per day; and eat a low-fat diet,” said Proietto.