To achieve these conclusions, researchers from the University of Helsinki have compiled data from three major studies carried out with British and Finnish populations. In total, more than 23,000 people were followed for 22 to 35 years, an exceptionally long duration which makes it possible to observe the real health impacts.
It appears that adults who have lost weight in their forties have reduced their risk of chronic diseases by 48% and by 19% their risk of death. These profits go far beyond the prevention of diabetes, already established by other research. Losing weight at this age also reduces the risk of infarction, stroke, cancer, asthma and pulmonary diseases. These protective effects persist even when researchers exclude diabetes from their calculations.
Important detail, this study was conducted at a time when bariatric surgery and weight loss drugs were rare. Participants therefore obtained these results only through food and physical exercise, methods accessible to all. “”We talk a lot about the benefits of weight management by lifestyle, but studies are surprisingly struggling to demonstrate positive health effects other than diabetes prevention“, Underlines Professor Timo Strandberg, co -author of the study, in a press release.
The fact remains that maintaining long -term weight loss remains a major challenge. The figures for this study illustrate this perfectly: only 96 British participants and 188 Finn people managed to lose weight permanently, against more than 1,200 who remained overweight throughout the period. A gap that shows the difficulty of the exercise.
This study also reveals an unknown aspect of weight loss. Contrary to what one might think, the most important profits are neither immediate nor spectacular. The most significant effects can take decades to manifest itself, which explains why it was necessary such long follow -up to highlight them.
The message is therefore clear for overweight quarantine: if maintaining a healthy weight all his life remains the ideal, it is never too late to reverse the trend. In fact, even a modest but durable weight loss can pay large in the long term and add precious years to your existence.