How Dieting Affects Fat Storage

Unfortunately, severe and prolonged dieting shuts down the
metabolism, sending the body into starvation mode. The fat
cells begin sending out even more fat-storing enzymes and a
significantly smaller amount of fat-releasing enzymes. Because
the fat cells are afraid of being starved to death and depleted of
their stores, they will hold on to the fat they have to the best of
their ability, causing the body to start burning lean muscle mass
to get the amount of fuel it needs.
Lean muscle mass, located in the skeletal muscles and the organ
systems, is the metabolically active part of the body. This means
that after the diet is over and your body is out of starvation
mode, your metabolism will still not function as well as before
the diet, because you have lost some of your muscle mass, which
was the engine driving your metabolism.
In addition, the effects of restrictive dieting on your fat-storing
and -releasing enzymes can be permanent. Though the levels
will return closer to a normal level after the diet, the fatreleasing
enzymes will almost always be at a slightly lower level
than before the diet, and the fat-storing enzymes will almost
always be at a slightly higher level. Even worse: the effects are
cumulative. This means that after each successive bout of
dieting, it will be harder and harder for you to lose fat and
control your weight for the long term.