Energy balance
Intentional weight loss of 5% or more is associated with a significant reduction in long-term all-cause mortality, whereas weight gain increases mortality risk.
If you are overweight, intentionally losing 5% or more of your body weight is associated with a significantly lower risk of dying over the next 20+ years. Even if you regain some of that weight later, the initial loss and the prevention of further gain provide long-term mortality benefits. Focus on the act of losing weight intentionally rather than maintaining a specific number on the scale forever.
Among 3828 high-weight participants, weight change was directly related to mortality (HR = 1.14 per 5% change, 95% CI = 1.02-1.28, P = 0.019)... Those who lost >5% had an 18% lower mortality (HR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.57-1.18, P = 0.29)... Compared to those who gained ≥ 5% body weight, those who lost >5% had a 36% reduction in risk (HR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41-0.98, P = 0.041).
Why this rating
Long-term randomized controlled trial follow-up (median 23 years) with large sample size, though observational analysis of achieved weight loss is susceptible to residual confounding.
Source
Weight change and mortality: Long‐term results from the trials of hypertension prevention
Nancy R. Cook et al. · Journal of Clinical Hypertension · 2018
DOI 10.1111/jch.13418
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