Lose a Little - It Helps a Lot

Newswise — If you’re trying to lose a lot of weight, and progress is slow, take heart. Losing just 5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight can have long-lasting health benefits.

Moderate weight loss has received increasing attention as a strategy for those who are overweight or obese. And unlike many weight-loss programs in which most people regain the majority of the weight they initially lost, this type of weight loss is more likely to be maintained over a longer time.

The January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers potential benefits from moderate, sustained weight loss:

Hypertension -- Several studies have shown that moderate weight loss -- around 5 percent -- can reduce or eliminate the need for medications that lower blood pressure.

Diabetes -- Studies of people at high risk of diabetes showed that moderate weight loss from dietary changes and moderate exercise can delay and possibly prevent type 2 diabetes. A weight loss of 5percent to 7 percent was linked to a 58 percent reduced risk of diabetes.

Heart disease -- Ten percent weight reduction may reduce your lifetime risk of developing heart disease by up to 4 percent.

Stroke -- Sustained moderate weight loss may reduce the risk of stroke.

Sleep apnea -- One study compared the prevalence of this sleep disorder in overweight participants before and after weight loss. Those who lost a moderate amount of weight experienced a 14 percent to 26 percent decline in the number of occurrences of abnormal overnight breathing.

Life expectancy -- Depending on your age and body mass, a sustained 10 percent weight loss can increase life expectancy.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today’s health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.