Weight Loss Programs Not Effective Against Obesity: Study

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Have you been struggling with weight management for years? If you are, then you are not alone. A study confirms that weight management programs available today are not an effective tool for dealing with obesity. In fact, the possibility of weight loss is only 1 out of 124 for women and 1 out of 210 for men.

According to Tech Times, researchers from the King's College in London, UK have observed the weights of approximately 129,000 men and 150,000 women with three or more body mass index (BMI), not including patients who had bariatric surgery.

The researchers have tried to identify among the group who will either attain their desirable body weight or at least lose a little weight. The results have shown that only about eight percent of men and 10 percent of women achieved the goals of the study. The researchers concluded that no matter what diet you take or how much exercises you do, it is still not going to work.

The Washington Post reports that Prof. Martin Gulliford, co-author of the study, has confirmed that individuals with a BMI of 30 or above has the least chances of achieving their desirable body weight, despite current programs of reducing calories and increasing physical activity. The professor also calls the attention of experts to develop a new and more effective strategy for weight management to fight and win against obesity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that a weight loss of one to two pounds per week is the recommended weight management, as it provides individuals the best opportunity to keep the weight off and achieve a healthier lifestyle at the end.

Eureka Alert also writes that weight cycling may be one of the reasons, as it is highly observed among the individuals in the study. Dr. Alison Fides, one of the authors who represents the Division of Health and Social Care Research at King's College, said that although there are health benefits associated with losing even a minimal amount of body weight, the fact remains it is still a challenging work for obese individuals.

Dr. Fides suggested that obesity management should be about prevention from gaining more weight and maintaining what they have lost for a long time. .

The study has been published in the American Journal of Public Health this year.