title: Intentional weight loss: patterns in the general population and its association with morbidity and mortality.
abstract: The question of whether intentional weight loss increases the longevity of obese individuals is important, given the high prevalence of obesity and co-morbidities in industrialized countries, and the high prevalence of intentional weight loss in such populations. A number of studies suggest that both weight loss and weight fluctuation are associated with increased mortality. Factors such as smoking status and pre-existing illness, however, have to be considered in relation to these findings. A study controlled for smoking status and pre-existing illness, found that intentional weight loss by overweight, white, US women, consistently reduced mortality in those with obesity related co-morbidities. An Indian study, involving individuals with previous myocardial infarction, found that dietary intervention reduced mortality substantially. Those losing > 5 kg had the greatest reduction in both total and cardiovascular mortality. In both the above studies, weight loss was approximately 10% of initial body weight. Preliminary evidence suggests that modest intentional weight loss is associated with increased longevity in individuals with co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diabetes Translation (K-10), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, USA.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*