Reducing body fat is proven to improve cardiovascular health and decrease the likelihood of developing diabetes. Systolic blood pressure, the ratio of total cholesterol to good cholesterol, and diabetes biomarkers were all found to be lower in those who followed an intensive behavioral weight loss program compared to those who did not lose weight or who followed a less intensive program for at least five years.
Weight loss with behavioral support reduces cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors.
On average, participants lost between 5 and 10 pounds across all of the studies included in this analysis. Following the completion of the weight loss program, Dr. Aveyard reported that those who received help at random gained 0.26 to 0.7 pounds more annually than those who received little to no assistance. Supported participants lost an additional 5 pounds by the end of the program, although both groups lost more weight overall than the control group.
Aveyard acknowledges that people’s “unguided weight loss efforts” did result in weight loss, but researchers found many benefits for the weight management group compared to the control group.
According to his findings, “risk factors were reduced in the control group, but the intervention group experienced an additional benefit.” After one year and five years, those who received behavioral intervention had lower systolic blood pressures of 1.5 mmHg and 0.4 mmHg, respectively.
A year and five years later, their total cholesterol-to-“good” (HDL) cholesterol ratio was 1.5 points lower, and their HbA1C percentage was 0.26 points lower.
Even after regaining weight, people with weight loss stories appeared to have a lower chance of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
Participants’ level of behavioral support was either high, low, or unknown
The study, which was published March 28 in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes by the American Heart Association, was based on a meta-analysis of 124 controlled trials that included more than 50,000 people who were given either a behavioral weight management program or a control group where they received no or little help losing weight.
One well-known example of this type of program is WW (previously Weight Watchers), which advocates weight loss without the use of medicines or surgery. Researchers found that most of these programs included weekly meetings with a leader to provide inspiration, encouragement, expert guidance, and progress checks. Weight loss interventions may include regular physical activity, nutritious eating, meal replacement (either partial or entire), fasting at regular intervals, or monetary incentives.
The body mass index cutoff for obesity in this study was 33, and the average age of participants was 51. Because at least 2.8 million deaths annually can be attributed to obesity-related causes, the World Health Organization has declared obesity an epidemic. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), obesity is a direct cause of cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated cholesterol, diabetes type 2, hypertension, and sleep disturbances.
Gaining weight might have negative consequences in some situations
Weight growth was previously thought to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, but these findings disprove that theory.
An investigation published in April 2017, by the New England Journal of Medicine, for instance, found that cardiac patients whose weight varied frequently had a considerably higher risk of poor outcomes. Research published in the journal Obesity looked at contestants who lost a lot of weight on the TV show The Biggest Loser and discovered that many of them gained it all back and were ultimately less healthy than they had been before the show.
Gardner’s description of intensive weight loss programs shows that they can include drastic measures that, in the short term, lead to rapid weight loss. To keep it off, “dramatic dietary changes, high intensity, and frequent physical activity are usually required,” adds Gardner. He says it may be more realistic to aim for weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week, as he recommends.
However, the results of this study suggest that even if weight is regained, there may be long-term health benefits from the initial weight loss.
The benefits to health in the form of reduced cardiovascular disease “should persist through life,” says Aveyard, even if all weight is regained. A reduced risk of these issues over a lifetime is associated with maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels.
Long-term benefits despite weight regain
Scientist and professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, Christopher Gardner, PhD, who was not involved in the study, lauded its thoroughness and long-term investigation. Having data for longer than six months to a year is “unusual” for weight reduction trials, he says.
Dr. Gardner notes that the findings corroborate the idea that “it’s better to have lost weight and regained it than never to have lost it at all.” But it’s unclear if the benefits of these initiatives will last longer than five years. Further research is required, according to the study’s authors, to determine if this possible benefit holds up over time.
The scale’s reading is not the only factor in the journey to better heart health. While losing weight offers immediate cardiovascular benefits, even if some weight is regained, the heart can still benefit from a healthy lifestyle. Embracing regular physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet, and managing stress are essential components of long-term heart health. Therefore, don’t let minor setbacks on your weight loss journey demotivate you; your heart is still reaping the benefits of your efforts.