Effects of intended weight loss on morbidity and mortality: possible explanations of controversial results

• Published in: Nutrition reviews Vol. 64; no. 11; pp. 502 - 507
• Main Authors: Berentzen, T, Sorensen, T.I.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-11-2006; International Life Sciences Institute; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - physiology; body fat distribution; body mass index; cancer; Cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; human health; Humans; literature reviews; Medical sciences; morbidity; Mortality; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; neoplasms; Obesity; Obesity - epidemiology; Obesity - mortality; type 2 diabetes; Weight control; weight loss; Weight Loss - physiology; Endocrinopathy; Type 2 diabetes; Human; Adipose tissue; Body weight; Mortality; Weight loss; Metabolic diseases; Cardiovascular disease; Corporal biometry; Malignant tumor; Body composition; Morbidity; Cancer
• ISSN: 0029-6643; 1753-4887
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2006.tb00183.x

Long-term, population-based, observational studies have shown that intended weight loss does not always reduce the mortality associated with obesity. The effects of weight loss on mortality may be a balance between the effects of the loss of harmful abdominal and ectopic fat mass and the loss of beneficial peripheral subcutaneous fat mass and lean body mass.