Health Benefits of Lifestyle Changes Without Weight Loss: New Study Insights

Key Findings from the Study

Jerusalem, June 9: A recent international study reveals that individuals can enhance their health through dietary and lifestyle modifications, even if they do not experience weight loss.

Conducted by researchers from Ben-Gurion University in Israel, Harvard University in the US, and Leipzig University in Germany, the study focused on individuals labeled as "weight loss resistant"—those who adopt healthy habits yet find it difficult to lose weight, as reported by a news agency.

Lead author Anat Yaskolka Meir, a postdoctoral research fellow in Epidemiology at Harvard Chan School, stated, “We have been conditioned to equate weight loss with health, and those who are weight loss-resistant are often seen as failures.”

Meir emphasized that the study's results redefine clinical success, indicating that individuals who do not lose weight can still enhance their metabolism and lower their long-term disease risk. “This is a message of hope, not failure,” she added.

Published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the research challenges the traditional notion that weight loss is the primary indicator of a successful diet. The findings showed that participants who did not lose weight still exhibited significant improvements in important health metrics.

The study monitored 761 adults over a period of 18 to 24 months. All participants made lifestyle changes without the aid of supplements or medications and adhered to healthy eating plans.

Additionally, participants were provided with complimentary gym access and exercise guidance.

At the conclusion of the study, around one-third of the participants had not lost weight, despite diligently following the program.

Nevertheless, they demonstrated enhancements in metabolic health, including increased levels of "good" HDL cholesterol, decreased leptin levels (a hormone produced by fat cells), and reductions in abdominal fat, as confirmed by MRI scans.

The researchers also discovered 12 genetic markers that may affect an individual's likelihood of losing weight through lifestyle changes, which could aid in personalizing future dietary recommendations.

The results indicate that healthy eating and regular exercise can yield substantial health benefits, even in the absence of weight loss, including a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to the researchers.