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Date Posted: 07:40:41 06/25/04 Fri
Author: J.R.Smith,c.f.t.,s.p.n.,s.s.c.
Subject: Losing Weight-or Even Just Trying-boosts Survival

Losing Weight-or Even Just Trying-boosts Survival

Reuters Health

By Merritt McKinney

Monday, March 3, 2003


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Overweight and obese people who try to lose weight may live longer than people who do not try to shed excess pounds, according to a new study, which also found that people who tried but failed to trim down were less likely to die than those who made no attempt.

It may seem like a no-brainer that people who are carrying around extra pounds can prolong their lives by slimming down, but the scientific evidence is not so straightforward, according to the lead author of the study.

"There is a widespread assumption that weight loss is good," Dr. Edward W. Gregg told Reuters Health in an interview. Weight loss is proven to have beneficial effects on several risk factors for disease, including high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and blood sugar, explained Gregg, who is at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.

But the evidence linking weight loss to these improvements comes from relatively short-term studies, Gregg said. There is not really any very convincing evidence that losing weight decreases the risk of dying, according to Gregg.

In fact, the CDC researcher pointed out that a large number of studies have suggested that people who lose weight may actually be at greater risk of premature death.

The problem with most of these studies, Gregg said, is that they did not separate intentional weight loss from weight loss that occurred because of disease.

"We were able to move a little bit beyond that data," Gregg said.

In a study of more than 6,000 obese and overweight people 35 and older who were followed for up to nine years, the death rate was 24% lower in people who lost weight intentionally than in people who did not try to shed pounds and whose weight stayed steady. But the death rate was 31% higher in people who lost weight unintentionally, the researchers report in the March 4th issue of the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

For people who were trying to trim down, those who actually lost weight had the lowest death rate. In a somewhat surprising finding, however, even people who were trying to lose weight but did not succeed had a lower death rate.

"How to interpret that finding is a little tricky," Gregg said in the interview.

People who are trying to lose weight may take steps to make their lifestyle healthier, such as increasing physical activity and eating a better diet, Gregg said. These lifestyle changes may be beneficial even if they do not lead to weight loss, he said. Gregg added that people who are trying to lose weight may be getting better medical care.

More research is needed to determine why people who try but do not succeed to lose weight live longer, Gregg said. Until that question is answered, the CDC scientist encouraged people "to talk to your doctor about whether you are at an ideal weight."

For people who are overweight or obese, Gregg recommended gradual weight loss by making healthy lifestyle changes in moderation. Besides exercising more and eating less, other healthful steps include eating more fruits and vegetables and adding more fiber to the diet, Gregg said.

SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine 2003;138:383-389.

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