Obesity weight loss strategies show promise

With a third of the American population suffering from obesity, of which 70% are trying to lose weight, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals that obese dieters who reported to have consumed less fat, exercised more, and used prescription weight loss medications had a higher chance of shedding the pounds, whilst diet foods and products, as well as nonprescription diet pills and popular diets tended to be less successful. Leading researcher, Jacinda M. Nicklas, MD, MPH, MA, a Clinical Research Fellow at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School declares: "Despite popular perception that obese people are unable to lose weight, a substantial number of obese participants in our study did report successful weight loss, suggesting that some obese U.S. adults can and do lose weight." The researchers assessed data of 4,000 obese adults who self-reported a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher in the 2001-2006 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, which tracks demographic, health, and health behavior information from non-institutionalized U.S. adults. 63% of the respondents reported to have tried losing weight within the last year. According to the analysis, those who reported to consume less fat, exercise more and used prescription weight loss medications were more likely to report loosing at least 5% of their body weight, whilst those who lost at least 10% of their body weight also tended to have joined a weight loss program. Dr. Niklas remarks: "Although national guidelines recommend a loss of 10% of body weight for improved health in the obese, studies have found that even a modest weight loss of 5% can lead to health benefits." Whilst popular diets, liquid diets and nonprescription diet pills were not linked to successfully losing weight, participants who managed to shed over 10% of their body weight reported they were less likely to consume diet foods and products, compared with those who lost less weight. Dr. Nicklas points out: "Interestingly, although participants engaging in formal weight loss programs may be required to consume certain diet products or foods, in our study, adults who said they used diet products were actually associated with being less likely to achieve at least 10% weight loss. This suggests that the structure of being in a program may be more important. It is possible that some dieters may be overeating diet products because they believe they are healthy, or low in calories." The study also revealed that prescription weight loss medications were linked to successful weight loss, although few participants used them. Dr. Niklas concludes: "These results tell us that Americans use many weight loss strategies that are not associated with significant weight loss, including nonprescription weight loss medications. Public health efforts directing Americans to adopt more proven methods may be warranted."