For years, we’ve been told that when it comes to losing weight, slow and steady is the best approach. Now an Australian study is casting doubt on that assumption. According to the research published The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. the rate at which you shed excess pounds has no bearing on whether or not you will gain them back.

As a matter of fact, if your goal involves losing 12.5 percent of your body weight, you’re more likely to succeed if you do it quickly. This study included 200 obese adults randomly assigned to either a 36-week gradual weight-loss program, or a 12-week rapid weight-loss regimen.

80 percent of those in the rapid weight-loss group and 50 percent of those in the gradual weight-loss group lost more than 12.5 percent of their body weight.

There are a number of possible reasons for the study findings, according to the researchers. The limited carbohydrate intake of a very-low-calorie diet — the type used in rapid weight loss — may cause a greater feeling of being full, and reduce food intake by forcing the body to burn fat. Speedy weight loss may also motivate people to stick with their diet and drop more weight.

The bad news is that people in both groups gained back much of the weight after 3 years. But the bottom line here is the idea that rapid weight loss leads to rapid weight regain is a myth!