Article

Intentional weight loss and mortality among initially healthy men and women.

Research Unit for Dietary Studies, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Center for Health and Society, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nutrition Reviews (impact factor: 4.47). 08/2008; 66(7):375-86. DOI:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00047.x pp.375-86
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Most prospective observational studies suggest that weight loss increases the risk of premature death among obese individuals. This is surprising because clinical studies show that weight loss generally leads to overall improvements in cardiovascular risk factors. It is sometimes argued that the increased mortality observed with weight loss must depend on confounding or poor study designs. This review was conducted to summarize results from studies on intentional weight loss and mortality among healthy individuals, while carefully considering the designs and problems in these studies. Evaluation criteria with a rating scale were developed. Of the studies evaluated, two found decreased mortality with intentional weight loss, three found increased mortality, and four found no significant associations between intentional weight loss and total mortality. Thus, it is still not possible for health authorities to make secure recommendations on intentional weight loss. More studies designed to specifically address this issue are warranted.

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Keywords

cardiovascular risk factors
 
clinical studies
 
designs
 
Evaluation criteria
 
healthy individuals
 
increased mortality
 
intentional weight loss
 
obese individuals
 
poor study designs
 
premature death
 
prospective observational studies
 
rating scale
 
significant associations
 
total mortality
 
weight loss
 
weight loss increases