Research

Mixed

In adults with screen-detected type 2 diabetes, weight gain (>2%) or significant weight loss (≥5% or ≥10%) in the first five years following diagnosis is associated with a significantly higher hazard of all-cause mortality compared to maintaining stable weight, with large weight loss being particularly harmful for non-obese individuals (BMI <30 kg/m²).

If you have type 2 diabetes, especially if you are not obese, avoid significant weight loss or gain. The study suggests that maintaining your current weight is associated with lower mortality risk compared to losing or gaining weight. If you are losing weight, consult your doctor to rule out underlying health issues rather than assuming it is a positive health improvement.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
Gaining >2% weight in the year after diabetes diagnosis was associated with higher hazard of all-cause mortality vs maintaining weight [Hazard Ratio(HR)(95%CI): 3.18(1.30-7.82)]. Losing ≥5% weight 1 year after diagnosis was also associated with mortality... Losing ≥10% weight over 5 years was associated with mortality among those with BMI<30kg/m2 [4.62(1.87-11.42)].
Jean Strelitz et al. · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · 2020

Why this rating

Observational study with wide confidence intervals and potential for confounding by indication (unintentional weight loss), though large sample size and long follow-up mitigate some risks.

Source

Association of weight loss and weight loss maintenance following diabetes diagnosis by screening and incidence of cardiovascular disease and all‐cause mortality: An observational analysis of the ADDITION‐Europe trial

Jean Strelitz et al. · Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism · 2020

DOI 10.1111/dom.14278

cohort · n=2730Cited 18×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →