Weight Loss May Not Actually Make You Healthier, Study Reveals - HuffPost

The research, published in the journal iScience, showed that overall wellness and longevity cannot be predicted by a number on a scale, and that exercise is more important than weight loss when it comes to heart health and living a long life.

The team behind the new review aimed their research at a glaring problem: Obesity has grown significantly in the United States and the world over the past several decades, as have the number of people dying from conditions like heart disease that are often closely linked with diet and exercise.

“The intense focus on weight loss has not prevented excessive weight gain in recent decades,” the new review states.

“Moreover, repeated weight loss efforts may contribute to weight gain, and is undoubtedly associated with the high prevalence of weight cycling, which is associated with significant health risks.”.

The researchers analyzed hundreds of studies looking at how weight loss, exercise and longevity fit together — focusing specifically on research that examined health outcomes in people who were considered overweight or obese.

Ultimately, the evidence shows being active trumps weight loss when it comes to improving heart health and reducing overall mortality risk, the researchers concluded.