Weight Loss and Improvement in Comorbidity: Differences at 5%, 10%, 15%, and Over

AbstractPurpose of ReviewOne begins to see improvement in glycemic measures and triglycerides with small amounts of weight loss, but with greater levels of weight loss there is even greater improvement. In fact, the relationship between weight loss and glycemia is one that is very close.Recent FindingsThis is fortunate for diabetes prevention; it takes only small amounts of weight loss to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes from impaired glucose tolerance, and after the 10  kg of weight loss, one cannot demonstrate much additional improvement in risk reduction. Modest weight loss (5 to 10%) is also associated with improvement in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and HDL cholesterol. With all these risk factors, more weight loss produces more improvement. Further, for patients with higher BMI levels (>40  kg/m2), the ability to lose the same proportion of weight with lifestyle intervention is equal to that of those with lower BMI levels, and there is equal benefit in terms of risk factor improvement with modest weight loss. For some comorbid conditions, more weight loss is needed —10 to 15%—to translate into clinical improvement. This is true with obstructive sleep apnea and non-alcoholic steatotic hepatitis. There is a graded improvement in improvements in measures of quality of life, depression, mobility, sexual dysfunction, and urinary stress incontinence, whereby imp rovements are demonstrable with modest weight loss (5–10%) and with further weight loss t...
Source: Current Obesity Reports - Category: Eating Disorders and Weight Management Source Type: research