Adherence
Intentional weight loss in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is not consistently associated with reduced mortality risk and may be associated with higher mortality in obese subgroups, whereas weight cycling (body weight variability) is consistently associated with significantly increased all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality.
If you have Type 2 Diabetes, do not focus on weight loss as a primary goal for reducing mortality risk. Instead, prioritize increasing physical activity and improving cardiorespiratory fitness. Weight cycling (losing and regaining weight) is associated with higher mortality risk, so maintaining a stable weight while improving fitness is a safer and more effective strategy for longevity.
Meta-analyses show that weight loss is not generally associated with reduced mortality risk in T2D, whereas weight cycling is associated with increased all-cause and CVD mortality.
Why this rating
Based on multiple meta-analyses and large cohort studies (ACCORD, Look AHEAD, etc.), though observational data has inherent limitations.
Source
Type 2 Diabetes Incidence and Mortality: Associations with Physical Activity, Fitness, Weight Loss, and Weight Cycling
Glenn A. Gaesser · Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine · 2022
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