When it comes to losing weight, confusion reigns, along with despair.
Many people assume, incorrectly, that lost weight always returns in time.
To advise doctors, on June 17 the National Institutes of Health published guidelines on identifying and treating overweight and obese adults. It tells them they need to be aware, that obesity and being overweight are a problem. Using evidence from 394 randomized clinical trials, the guidelines listed the health benefits of losing weight through diet and exercise. If it does reduce body weight, exercise also improves blood fats, further reducing the risk of heart disease. Exercise may also decrease abdominal fat, which is especially harmful to the cardiovascular system.