Can weight loss mean loss of life?
New research shows that both extreme weight loss and weight gain significantly increase the risk of death in obese individuals with heart disease.
The American Heart Association warns that 61% of American adults will likely have some type of heart disease in the next 30 years as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity become more common.
In this most recent study, researchers at England’s Anglia Ruskin University analyzed data from 8,297 obese people via the UK Biobank.
Cardiovascular disease refers to several conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, heart arrhythmias, vascular disease, congenital heart defects, stroke and high blood pressure.
It has been the leading cause of death in the US since the AHA was founded in 1924, while stroke is the fifth leading cause of death.
Publishing in the journal Heart, researchers found that compared to those who maintained their weight, patients who lost more than 22 pounds during the study increased their risk of all-cause mortality by 54%.
Conversely, those that gained more than 22 pounds during that time nearly doubled their risk of all cause mortality and increased their risk of cardiovascular death by three times.
According to the team, these results suggest that weight fluctuations in either extreme are detrimental to overall health.
“Maintaining a stable weight, even within the obese range, appears to be crucial for reducing mortality risk in patients with cardiovascular disease,” said lead author Dr. Jufen Zhang.
“It was perhaps unsurprising that significant weight gain was associated with higher mortality, but interesting that a similar association was found among those who lost a lot of weight.”
Recent preliminary research has found that stroke survivors can significantly lower their risk of another stroke, a heart attack, or premature death by taking GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic or Jardiance. Meanwhile, Wegovy has been shown to reduce the overall risk of heart attack and stroke.
Zhang and his team found a link between significant weight gain and high body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption and younger age.
A 2024 study predicts that about 60% of adults and nearly a third of young people worldwide will be overweight or obese by 2050.
Overweight and obese people under 25 increased from 198 million to 493 million between 1990 and 2021. That number is forecast to reach 746 million by 2050.
While GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been hailed as a miracle cure for obesity, Zhang wants providers and patients to be aware of the potential dangers of losing massive amounts of weight quickly.
“This study is the first of its kind to examine the link between weight change and all-cause mortality in obese individuals with cardiovascular disease,” he said. “Clinicians should bear this in mind, particularly with regards to new drugs on the market, which have been lauded for delivering fast weight-loss.”
He noted that while weight loss is recommended for obese adults, at-risk groups including those with a history of cardiovascular disease should consult and collaborate with a medical professional to safely scale their weight loss.
