Unintentional weight loss increases risk of death by 31%

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Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:18 pm Email this article
People who unintentionally lost weight had a 31 percent increased risk of death over a 9-year period compared to people who were not trying to lose weight and reported no weight change according to a 2003 study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that followed 6391 overweight and obese persons with a body mass index of 25 or more who were at least 35 years of age. Conclusion

Conclusion: Intentional weight loss reduces the risk of death

“Self-reported intentional weight loss is associated with lower mortality rates, and weight loss is associated with higher mortality rates only if it is unintentional,” the researchers concluded.

 

Patient Summary of Study

Patient summary of the study posted here

A summary of the study for patients in PDF format can be found here.

REFERENCE

Gregg E, Gerzoff R, Thompson T, Williamson D. Intentional weight loss and death in overweight and obese u.s. Adults 35 years of age and older. Ann Intern Med. 2003 Mar 4, 138(5):383-89.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

E. Gregg
Division of Diabetes Translation
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4770 Buford Highway NE, Mailstop K-10
Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

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