New Delhi, September 13 (IANS). The increasing obesity and overweight around the world has become a major health challenge today. According to an estimate, about 2.5 billion adults in the world are suffering from the problem of overweight or obesity. In such a situation, there is continuous research on different methods to lose weight like diet, exercise and lifestyle changes.
The review by Hyderabad-based ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition looked at the effect of different lifestyle-based approaches on weight and metabolic health. The review included 112 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, analyzing data from 2,332 randomized controlled trials and approximately 2.48 lakh participants. It included research related to more than 50 countries.
According to the study, programs that combined diet and physical activity had better effects on weight loss as well as heart and metabolic health. Over 12 months of follow-up, the combination of diet and physical activity resulted in approximately 3.68 kg more weight loss than the comparison group.
At the same time, the maximum weight loss effect was seen in the first three months due to low calorie diet. During this period, about 2.64 kg more weight was lost compared to the comparison group. However, to keep weight under control in the long run, it was considered necessary to include regular physical activity and positive changes in behavior instead of just diet.
Only weight loss is not the special thing of this study. The effect of physical activity was also seen on blood pressure. Physical activity also showed a reduction in systolic blood pressure over a period of 6 to 12 months.
Programs that combined diet and exercise also showed significant improvements in blood glucose and insulin resistance. That is, the benefits are not limited to the figures visible on the weighing machine, but can also affect the metabolic health of the body.
The most important conclusion of this review is that extreme weight loss is not always necessary for health benefits. According to research, many of the benefits of lifestyle improvements do not depend on the amount of weight lost. Therefore, even if a person does not reach the commonly prescribed '5 to 10 percent weight loss' goal, healthy eating, regular exercise and a positive lifestyle can still prove to be extremely beneficial to his health.
–IANS
PIM/AS