OVERWEIGHT WHO DIET SUCCESSFULLY DOUBLE RISK OF DEATH

From The Undernews

Overweight people who diet to reach a healthier weight are more likely to die young than those who remain fat, according to a study. The finding needs to be backed up by further research before sweeping changes are made to public health strategies, the authors warn, but it highlights how poorly the long-term health effects of dieting are understood. . .

Hmmm...this is news to me. The study was carried out in Finland and followed nearly 3000 obese people with these results...

'Healthy overweight or obese subjects who try to lose weight and succeed in doing so over a six-year period suffer from almost double the risk of dying during the next 18 years compared with subjects who do not try to lose weight and whose weight remains stable,' said Dr Sorensen.

Those who gained weight also had a greater risk of dying young.

But how could this be? Losing weight is supposed to prolong our life right?

The researchers were unable to identify why the dieters were at a greater risk of dying younger, but believe it is caused by fat being lost from lean organs as well as other body tissues.

'It seems as if the long-term effect of the weight loss is a general weakening of the body that leads to an increased risk of dying from several different causes,' said Dr Sorensen. 'The adverse effects of losing lean body mass may overrule the beneficial effects of losing fat mass when dieting,' he added.

OK...Apparently it wasn't news to researchers here in the states...

The finding is supported by an earlier study by researchers at the US National Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in Atlanta.

It followed 6,391 overweight or obese people for nine years and found that those who had no intention of losing weight and even gained weight were least at risk of dying young.

So now what? I am obese and I intend to lose weight (of course I am also not HEALTHY and overweight. I have diabetes and hypertension and weight loss will help reduse the effects of both.) But if you are overweight and basically healthy your best bet may be to just maintain. Go figure.