The findings are part of a new analysis of research on heart health and intensive weight-loss programs, published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Weight loss reduces risk factors for heart disease and diabetes over 5 years
Globally, overweight and obesity caused 2.4 million deaths in 2020, according to the American Heart Association's 2023 Statistics Update.
Lose weight to reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease
People who are obese or overweight are at increased risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure – increasing their risk of heart disease. They are also more likely to develop insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes.
For people who are overweight or obese, losing weight is an effective way to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, said study author Dr. Susan A. Jebb, professor of diet and population health at the University of Oxford (UK).
Researchers combined the results of 124 studies with a total of more than 50,000 participants — obese people, average age 51, followed for 28 months.
They used the pooled results to estimate changes in risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes after weight loss.
People who are obese or overweight are at increased risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure - increasing their risk of heart disease.
The authors found that the average weight loss was not much, ranging from 2-5 kg. But the weight gain was only 0.12 to 0.32 kg per year.
Results showed that participants who lost weight reduced their risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes for at least five years, according to News Medical.
The average results are as follows:
Systolic blood pressure was 1.5 mm Hg lower at 1 year and 0.4 mm Hg lower at 5 years. The percentage of average blood sugar HbA1c was reduced by 0.26 at 1 year and 5 years. The ratio of total cholesterol to good HDL cholesterol was 1.5 points lower at 1 year and 5 years.
These changes are important because they represent improvements at the population level, Professor Jebb explains.
Preliminary results show that even if the weight is regained, the risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes remains lower.
These findings suggest that weight loss is effective in controlling cardiovascular risk factors and has the potential to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease, said Dr. Jebb.
8 tips to improve heart health
Additionally, studies have shown that following the American Heart Association's eight tips can also improve heart health:
These are: Eat healthy foods, be physically active, don't smoke, get enough sleep, maintain a healthy weight, and control cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels, according to News Medical.
Source link
Comment (0)