LOSE a Little and GAIN a Lot!

Did you know that if you are overweight and lose only 5%  - 10% of your weight, you are on your way to better health?  Here are highlights from some of the studies on the benefits of modest weight loss. 

• Numerous studies show that weight loss, even if only 5-10%, significantly improves lipoproteins, hypertension, diabetes and insulin resistance, risk for osteoarthritis and it's symptoms, risk for selected cancers, and other risk factors for chronic diseases.

• The Finnish study which was the first published randomized clinical trial of diabetes prevention through lifestyle changes suggests that sustained modest weight losses of 5% of bodyweight can reduce the risk of developing a chronic disease.

• Recent studies also have demonstrated that weight cycling is associated with increased health risks. Sustained weight loss, even 5% is a far better health outcome than weight loss and then regaining of the weight.

• Several studies suggest that intentional weight loss is associated with decreased mortality. One study of 43,457 women found that any amount of intentional weight loss resulted in health benefits. In this study, women who intentionally lost weight had a 40-50% decrease in deaths from obesity-related cancers and a 30-40% decrease in death from type 2 diabetes. Another study of 49,337 men reported a 32-36% decline in death from diabetes among men with health problems who intentionally lost weight.

This blog content was adapted from the online article:  Lifestyle Management of Adult Obesity  Health Benefits of Intentional Weight Loss; http://www.vhct.org/case2500/benefits.htm; University of Missouri Columbia School of Health Professions