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Review
. 2022 Apr;30(4):802-840.
doi: 10.1002/oby.23371.

Benefits of weight loss of 10% or more in patients with overweight or obesity: A review

Abd A Tahrani  1 , John Morton  2
Affiliations
Review

Benefits of weight loss of 10% or more in patients with overweight or obesity: A review

Abd A Tahrani et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: Modest weight loss (5%-10%) is clinically meaningful in patients with overweight or obesity. However, greater weight loss may be required to achieve improvements in or remission of certain weight-related complications. Therefore, this study reviewed the effect of large weight loss (≥10%). Most studies reporting large weight loss and relevant outcomes used bariatric surgery or lifestyle modifications.

Results: Benefits of large weight loss were observed in patients with various overweight- or obesity-related complications, including improvements in comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Improvements in glucose metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors were observed in patients who achieved large weight loss through lifestyle interventions or pharmacotherapy (phentermine/topiramate 15/92 mg once daily or subcutaneous semaglutide 2.4 mg once weekly). Other benefits associated with large weight loss included reduced cancer risk and improvements in knee osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, fertility-related end points, and health-related quality of life. While costly, bariatric surgery is currently the most cost-effective intervention, although most weight-management programs are deemed cost-effective.

Conclusions: Overall, large weight loss has a major beneficial impact on overweight- and obesity-related complications. Large weight loss should be the main treatment target when modest weight loss has had insufficient effects on obesity-related complications and for patients with severe obesity.

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References

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