A new study finds just a month's worth of unhealthy living changes physiology, making piled-on fat even harder to lose.
Scientist's reporting in the current issue of nutrition and metabolism studied 18 normal weight healthy participants.
They found that a brief period of excessive overeating, coupled with reined in activity, may change body composition and lead to a significant boost in body fat levels. They say these changes appear to endure despite a return to healthier behaviors.