Intent matters when it comes to the benefits of women's weight loss

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-03-07 03:00

International

Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash

Older women who successfully reduce their waist circumference as part of a weight loss attempt are less likely to die prematurely, according to international researchers who say this is only the case for women who lose weight intentionally. The researchers followed nearly 60,000 women initially aged 50-79 over about 18 years, looking at both intentional and unintentional weight loss. By the end of the study, just under half the women had died. The researchers say women who gained body weight or waist circumference and women who had unintentionally lost weight or waist circumference were more likely to have died of any cause, cancer and heart problems. Women who had intentionally tried to lose weight and had successfully reduced their waist circumference were less likely to die of any cause, cancer or heart problems, while women who had only intentionally reduced their body weight but maintained their waist circumference were only less likely to die of heart problems.

Media release

From: JAMA

Intentional Weight Loss, Waist Circumference Reduction, and Mortality Risk Among Postmenopausal Women

About The Study: In this cohort study, reported intentional weight loss efforts that were coupled with measured waist circumference reductions were associated with lower risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality. Attention to diet and exercise that promote reductions in central adiposity should be encouraged.

Attachments

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public. Research URLs will go live after the embargo ends.

Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Indiana University Bloomington, USA

Funder: Dr Manson reported receiving grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) during the conduct of the study and receiving grants from NIH and Mars Edge outside the submitted work. Dr Ostfeld reported receiving grants from Beyond Meat, Purjes Foundation, and Greenbaum Foundation and having options to purchase shares of Mesuron outside the submitted work. Dr Chlebowski reported receiving personal fees from Pfizer and UpToDate outside the submitted work. DrWassertheil-Smoller reported using data that were derived from a grant for theWomen's Health Initiative, which is supported by NIH, during the conduct of the study. No other disclosures were reported.

Media Contact/s

Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.