If overweight people lose only five percent, serious illness can be avoided

Even a small weight loss, has great effects on our health
If you are one of those people who are a bit overweight, but plan to live healthier lives, there is good news for you now. Losing about five percent of your weight can lead to a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity. This reduces the risk of serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Many people in Germany weigh too much or have problems with being overweight. Patients often try to lose weight to prevent negative health consequences. Scientists from the Center for Human Nutrition found in an investigation that people with obesity need only lose about five percent to reduce the likelihood of serious health problems. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Cell Metabolism".

Even a slight reduction in weight can have significant positive effects if you are overweight. (Image: SENTELLO / fotolia.com)

Five percent less weight has significant health benefits
Many diseases are related to obesity. Thus, it is not surprising that sufferers usually want to lose a few pounds to lead a healthier life. If overweight people lose about five percent, it can prevent serious illnesses, the doctors say. Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease would be reduced by weight loss. Even if five percent weight loss does not have any dramatic cosmetic benefits, there are significant health benefits, says lead author Dr. Samuel Klein, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Washington University School of Medicine. The study illustrates a common opinion among experts on obesity. These advise their patients to lose five to ten percent of their body weight to improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. But any person who has ever tried to lose weight knows for sure that there is a big difference between five percent and ten percent. It's much harder to get ten percent weight loss than just lose five percent, Dr. Small.

Weight loss of 5 percent, also reduces body fat by eight percent
The study also shows that low weight loss is enough to improve our health. If people do not lose more than five percent, they should not feel that they have failed. Small added. As part of the study, the scientists recruited forty overweight men and women for a controlled examination. This should determine the health consequences of a weight loss of five, ten and fifteen percent. The subjects were divided into two groups. Half of the participants should lose weight and the other subjects should keep their weight, the experts explain. When people lost five percent of their weight, their body fat mass also fell by about eight percent. As a result, a seven percent drop in intra-abdominal fat volume was observed, say the physicians. In addition, liver fat decreased by about 40 percent. High liver fat levels can contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver and cirrhosis, the researchers warn.

Low weight loss can prevent diabetes, strokes and heart disease
A weight loss of five percent also lowers the levels of glucose, insulin and triglycerides in the blood. This reduction is associated with a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease and strokes, the physicians explain. In addition, weight loss of five percent results in a lower heart rate and lower systolic blood pressure. We thought before the study that five percent weight loss would be beneficial, but we were surprised that this weight loss affects so many organ systems at the same time. Small. Losing a moderate amount of weight can have metabolic benefits, the health professional continues.

Not all overweight people have metabolic problems
About one third of American adults are overweight. However, a person's weight is not a very reliable predictor of heart health or diabetes risk, the researchers explain. Large parts of the BMI ratio overweight, obese and morbidly obese people would indeed have no metabolic problems, explain the experts. People with a normal weight can still be metabolically unhealthy, the doctors add. If you are overweight and your doctor has advised you to lose some weight to improve your insulin sensitivity or lower your blood pressure, bear in mind that even a small amount of weight loss can have a measurable impact on your health, the researchers explain. as)