Research
Energy balance
Greater magnitude of weight loss (>= 10%) is associated with significantly greater improvements in weight-specific HRQOL (total score, physical function, self-esteem, sexual life) compared to smaller weight loss (< 5%).
Aiming for 10% or more weight loss yields the best improvements in physical function, self-esteem, and sexual life. However, even losing 5-9% provides significant quality of life benefits, particularly for your overall sense of well-being. Don't dismiss smaller losses; they matter.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Participants who lost >= 10% of initial weight achieved greater improvements in physical function, self-esteem, sexual life, and the IWQOL-Lite total score than those who lost < 5%...
Why this rating
Based on subgroup analysis within an RCT.
Source
Short‐ and Long‐Term Changes in Health‐Related Quality of Life with Weight Loss: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial
Rebecca L. Pearl et al. · Obesity · 2018
DOI 10.1002/oby.22187
rct · n=137Cited 38×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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