Nearly half of American adults try to lose weight in a given year, yet up to 80 percent of those who do will put at least some of it back on. Lately, theres been an anti-diet movement among healthcare professionals that promotes the idea that people should stop trying to pursue weight loss.
There are valid reasons for this stance. While a high BMI may be linked to a higher risk for diseases, like insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, studies have found that body size alone isnt the best marker of health. Plus, some studies suggest that setting aside your weight-loss goals can lead to improvements in your self esteem, mood and eating behaviors (like portion control). So, should you stop trying to lose weight? In nutshell: Not necessarily.
Dr. Robert Kushner, the medical director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, a professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and author of the book, Six Factors to Fit: Weight Loss that Works for You!, told TODAY that while a higher body weight isnt always linked to poorer health outcomes, excessive body fat does present a health risk to many people. He explained that decades of science demonstrate that a very high body weight is linked to poorer health outcomes, including dying prematurely.
One study that modeled the death rates of 4,000 people with heart disease or diabetes found that as weight crept up, lifespan appeared to shorten. Compared to those defined as having a healthy body weight, people who were overweight could lose about three years from their lifespan; obese individuals could die up to six years sooner; and very obese individuals could lose up to eight years from their lives, according to researchers.
Even people who are very overweight and healthy at the moment may be at increased risk for more serious problems over time. One study that looked at the health records of 3.5 million people, 15% of whom were categorized as obese and healthy (meaning they didnt have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes) found that over five years, these people were 49% more likely to develop heart disease and 96% more likely to develop heart failure compared with their healthier-weight counterparts.
Dr. Kushner emphasized that there are a lot of similarities between body weight regulation and blood sugar or blood pressure regulation in the sense that there are biological, social, behavioral and economic factors that contribute to dysregulation. When there is a health risk, whether thats due to excessively high body weight or blood pressure, available treatment options should be discussed, he said. A balanced, calorie-controlled diet is one such option and that medications and surgery may be useful when needed, he said.
But what about weight re-gain? Dr. Kushner pointing to the landmark Diabetes Prevent Program explained that even if youve lost weight and then regained some of it back, you may still be better off. The study found that healthy eating and exercise could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by at least 58% among people with prediabetes and 10 years later, even despite some weight regain, people in the lifestyle intervention program reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 34%.
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If you want to pursue weight loss, here are four things you can do:
The rate and amount of weight you lose is highly individual and there are no guarantees youll reach the weight you want. But losing just 5% of your weight or 8 pounds for the average 170-pound woman can lead to health improvements.
Rather than focusing on a goal weight, focus on eating habits within your control. For example, swap less healthy packaged foods for healthier versions, make it a goal to eat veggie-filled meals, kick your soda habit, drink more water, trade your refined grains for whole grains, develop an awareness of healthy portion sizes and aim to eat a balanced mix of food groups (mostly veggies, with some protein, fat and carbs) at meals. These types of eating behaviors can promote weight loss without you having to fixate on it.
Whether you fall into the anti-diet camp or not, fad and restrictive diets arent helpful. These plans are hard to follow and they dont help you develop long-term, balanced eating habits or the skills you need to address issues within your food environment things like meal planning or dinner with friends. They also dont teach you how to manage stress and emotional eating in a healthy way.
In his book, Dr. Kushner explains that managing weight involves a mix of strategies like these, along with gaining an appreciation for how your body works, for example, by becoming more aware of the types of foods that are more filling, like high-fiber veggies and whole grains as well as lean proteins.
Clearly, health isnt just about your weight or what you consume. Along with balanced eating, its important to build other key habits into your life. These practices can have a positive impact on your weight and well-being.
Healthy habits include:
A review study published in 2019 that analyzed 67 studies on people who had successfully maintained weight loss found some commonalities among the pool of people.
Their maintenance habits included:
Many people can healthfully pursue weight loss, but for some people weight-loss efforts can be destructive.
Signs to watch out for include:
If pursuing weight loss triggers these or any other signs of disordered eating or exercise, seek support from a mental health professional or registered dietitian who specializes in intuitive eating or eating disorders.
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Weight loss options: Why you shouldn't give up dieting - TODAY
