Assessing the evidence for health benefits of low-moderate weight loss: A systematic review

Title

Purpose

To inform policy recommendations on weight management services, a robust, comprehensive and up-to-date review is required assessing the evidence on the health benefits (including cardiometabolic and wider health outcomes) of small amounts of weight loss (specifically <5%). The aim of this review is to systematically search the published literature to assess the health benefits of losing a low-moderate amount of weight (0-5% weight loss).

Background

The standard goal for weight loss interventions is modest weight loss (>5% of baseline weight). This is generally accepted as providing clinically meaningful benefits. However, some adults achieve modest weight loss, often less than 5% (low-moderate) and there is uncertainty about the health benefits of low-moderate weight loss, especially for people without pre-existing health conditions.

Methodology

To systematically search the published literature to find the studies that have assessed the impact of losing a low-moderate amount of weight (defined as 0-5%) on the following health benefits: Cardiometabolic risk factors (e.g., blood pressure, lipids, HbA1c, fasting glucose), mental health, wellbeing, quality of life, physical health outcomes (e.g., mobility, liver function). To appraise the quality of the identified studies, and then conduct meta-analyses per health outcome, if data and heterogeneity of the included studies allows.

Timing

Autumn – 2023