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
DOI 10.31083/j.rcm2311364
More from this paper
- Higher levels of physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and muscular fitness (MF) are associated with a significantly reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes incidence and reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in individuals with T2D, independent of body weight.Strong
- In individuals with Type 2 Diabetes, the 'obesity paradox' exists where the lowest mortality risk is observed in the BMI range of 25–35 kg/m2, but this is largely explained by higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) rather than body weight itself.Good
Related findings · Adherence
- Regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity) reduces all-cause and cardiovascular mortality by 20-30% and lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 25-35%.Strong
- Increasing physical activity from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one in middle adulthood significantly reduces the risk of coronary events compared to remaining sedentary.Strong
- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
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