Researchers call for a focus on fitness over weight loss for obesity-
related health conditions

Date:
September 20, 2021
Source:
Cell Press
Summary:
The prevalence of obesity around the world has tripled over the past
40 years, and, along with that rise, dieting and attempts to lose
weight also have soared. But according to a new article, when it
comes to getting healthy and reducing mortality risk, increasing
physical activity and improving fitness appear to be superior
to weight loss. The authors say that employing a weight-neutral
approach to the treatment of obesity- related health conditions
also reduces the health risks associated with yo-yo dieting.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
The prevalence of obesity around the world has tripled over the past 40
years, and, along with that rise, dieting and attempts to lose weight also
have soared. But according to a review article publishing September 20
in the journal iScience, when it comes to getting healthy and reducing mortality risk, increasing physical activity and improving fitness
appear to be superior to weight loss. The authors say that employing
a weight-neutral approach to the treatment of obesity-related health
conditions also reduces the health risks associated with yo-yo dieting.


==========================================================================
"We would like people to know that fat can be fit, and that fit
and healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes," says co-author
Glenn Gaesser of the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State
University. "We realize that in a weight-obsessed culture, it may be challenging for programs that are not focused on weight loss to gain
traction. We're not necessarily against weight loss; we just think
that it shouldn't be the primary criterion for judging the success of
a lifestyle intervention program." "This is especially important when
you consider the physiological realities of obesity," says co-author
Siddhartha Angadi of the School of Education and Human Development at
the University of Virginia. "Body weight is a highly heritable trait,
and weight loss is associated with substantial metabolic alterations
that ultimately thwart weight loss maintenance." Obesity is associated
with a number of health conditions, including cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, cancer, and problems with the bones and joints. But weight
cycling, commonly called yo-yo dieting, is also associated with health problems, including muscle loss, fatty liver disease, and diabetes.

The authors say that by focusing on fitness rather than weight loss,
people can gain the benefits of exercise while avoiding the risks
associated with weight cycling.

Current public health guidelines recommend that adults accumulate 150-300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity (the intensity equivalent to walking at casual-to-brisk pace) or 75-150 minutes per
week of vigorous-intensity physical activity (the intensity equivalent
to jogging or running). "But it's important to note that the benefits
of exercise are dose dependent, with the biggest benefits coming
from just moving out of the couch- potato zone to doing at least some moderate-intensity activity," Gaesser says.

"It's also important to emphasize that physical activity can be
accumulated throughout the day. For example, multiple short walks during
the day (even as short as two to ten minutes each) are just as beneficial
as one long walk for health benefits." In the review, the authors cite
recent research focused on the magnitude of mortality risk reduction
associated with weight loss compared to that associated with an increase
in physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness.

The risk reduction associated with increasing fitness and physical
activity was consistently greater than that associated with intentional
weight loss. They also looked at the magnitude of reduction in the risk
markers of cardiovascular disease that are associated with either weight
loss or increased physical activity. They used meta-analyses from several studies done over a range of time periods and across a broad geographical
area. "Science has generally supported the main points proposed in Big Fat Lies, a book on this topic that I first published in 1996," Gaesser notes.

The researchers acknowledge limitations in the existing body of
research, including the fact that this field is heavily reliant on epidemiological studies that do not definitively establish cause and
effect, and note that only large, randomized, controlled clinical
trials can fully examine the outcomes of using a fitness-focused
approach to optimize cardiometabolic mortality risk in people who are
obese. "Collectively, however, these epidemiological studies demonstrate
strong and consistent associations, and this is why meta-analyses can
be useful," Angadi says. "In the case of physical activity and fitness,
the epidemiological evidence is supported by a large body of experimental studies and randomized controlled trials that have established plausible mechanisms for the consistent findings in epidemiological studies." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Cell_Press. Note: Content may be
edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Glenn A. Gaesser, Siddhartha S. Angadi. Obesity treatment:
Weight loss
versus increasing fitness and physical activity for reducing health
risks. iScience, 2021; 102995 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102995 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210920111413.htm

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