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

Abd A Tahrani, John Morton

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)802-840
Number of pages39
JournalObesity
Volume30
Issue number4
Early online date25 Mar 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Medical writing support was funded by Novo Nordisk A/S. Novo Nordisk A/S conducted initial literature searches and had a role in the review of the manuscript for scientific accuracy.

AAT reports grants, personal fees, and/or nonfinancial support from AstraZeneca plc; Bharat Pharmaceuticals; Boehringer Ingelheim; Bristol‐Myers Squibb; Eli Lilly and Company; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Impeto Medical; Janssen Pharmaceuticals; Merck Sharp and Dohme; Napp Pharmaceuticals Ltd.; Nestlé S.A.; Novo Nordisk A/S; ResMed; and Sanofi S.A. AAT is currently employed by Novo Nordisk A/S as International Medical Vice President for Obesity in Clinical Drug Development. The manuscript was written before AAT joined Novo Nordisk A/S. JM is a consultant for Novo Nordisk A/S.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Obesity Society.

Keywords

  • Anti-Obesity Agents/therapeutic use
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Obesity/drug therapy
  • Overweight/drug therapy
  • Phentermine/therapeutic use
  • Quality of Life
  • Topiramate/therapeutic use
  • Weight Loss

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Endocrinology
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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