Losing even a little weight can pay big health dividends.
The Weight Loss Study:
Researchers at Washington University recruited 40 overweight people and randomly assigned them to either a weight loss regimen or a maintenance regimen. The subjects went through thorough metabolic assessments after weight loss of 5, 10 and 15 percent of their initial body weight.
Only 14 of those assigned to the weight maintenance phase of the study stayed in it for the full year, but 19 of those in the weight loss group completed the study. All of them who were assigned to the diet managed to lose at least a little weight, at a minimum 5 percent of their initial avoirdupois.
The Benefits of Losing a Little Weight:
Losing just 5 percent of their starting weight reduced liver fat by 40 percent. It also improved blood levels of triglycerides, insulin and glucose. This modest weight loss lowered heart rate and systolic blood pressure as well.
Continued weight loss resulted in greater improvement, particularly in organ-specific insulin sensitivity. But the researchers say the biggest bang for the effort was achieved with that first 5 percent drop in weight. Although no one is about to suggest that it is easy to drop pounds, cutting 5 percent is certainly less daunting than trying for 10 or 15 percent.
This should serve as motivation for anyone who is overweight to make the effort to lose a little weight, as it could pay metabolic dividends. We recently conducted a one-hour interview with Dr. David Ludwig, author of Always Hungry? In it you will find advice on making weight loss less onerous. His approach could certainly help a person lose that initial 5 percent, and likely a good bit more.
Cell Metabolism, Feb. 22, 2016
