Weight Loss Facts

Keeping your body at an appropriate weight
is a skill which can be learned.

A 5% weight loss is related to significant improvements in glycemic control, among persons with type II diabetes.
Wing, R. R., Koeske, R., Epstein, L. H., Nowalk, M. P., Gooding, W., & Becker. (1987). Long-term effects of modest weight loss in type II diabetic patients. Archives of Internal Medicine, 147, 1749-1753.

Weight loss achieved through diet is associated with significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels.
Dattilo, A. M., & Kris-Etherton, P. M. (1992). Effects of weight reduction on blood lipids and lipoproteins: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56, 320-328.

Long-term weight loss, even modest weight loss, is correlated with clinically significant reductions in blood pressure and a reduced risk for hypertension.
Stevens, V J. et al. (2001). Long-term weight loss and changes in blood pressure: Results of the trials of hypertension prevention, phase II.

A 10% weight loss is associated with a 26% reduction in severity of sleep apnea symptoms. Weight loss is also related to a reduced likelihood of developing sleep apnea.
Peppard, P. E., Young, T., Palta, M., Dempsey, J., & Skatrud, J. (2000). Longitudinal study of moderate weight change and sleep-disordered breathing. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 284, 3015-3021.

A lifestyle intervention of a low-calorie, low-fat diet and moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, has been shown to reduce the incidence of diabetes by 58% over a three year period. Lifestyle intervention is significantly more effective in reducing the incidence of diabetes than the use of medication.
Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. (2002). Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. The New England Journal of Medicine, 346, 393-403.

A modest weight loss of 5% to 10% of one's starting weight is associated with significant reductions in blood pressure, resulting in a decreased need for or even discontinuation of blood pressure medication. A modest weight loss in people with normal blood pressure can also prevent the onset of high blood pressure.
Mertens, I. L., & Van Gaal, L. F. (2000). Overweight, obesity, and blood pressure: The effects of modest weight reduction. Obesity Research, 8, 270-278.

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