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Fortunately, even modest weight loss reduces health risks. A sustained "weight
loss as little as 5% to 10% has been shown to improve disorders associated with
obesity."5,41,42,72 Even relatively modest decreases in weight in the obese can
result in substantial health benefits. "Weight loss of 10% or less is often
associated with marked clinical improvement."71 In fact, NAASO, NIH and WHO
recommend weight loss for obesity-related disorders.41,42,72
A possible explanation for the rapidity with which morbidity declines with modest
weight loss is the recent finding that high-risk upper-body visceral fat is lost
disproportionately versus subcutaneous fat in early weight reduction.64 Loss of
visceral adipose tissue confers additional health benefits. In one study of weight
loss in otherwise comparable groups of obese women - one with a predominantly
upper-body (UB) fat distribution, the other with a lower-body (LB) distribution -
"weight loss was similar between groups (~8 kg), and no change occurred in lean
body mass or basal metabolic rate." 32 However,
cholesterol and triglycerides were greater (<0.01) in the UB group at baseline and decreased significantly more in these women (<0.01) than in the LB group.32
Weight loss with XENICAL plus diet significantly improves obesity-related risk
factors.19 Such weight loss by obese patients is associated
with:
- Reduction in levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
and triglycerides, as well as increases in the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
cholesterol in patients with hyperlipidemia
- Improved fasting insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes
- Improved blood pressure in patients with hypertension
See health benefits of weight loss for specific conditions:
Type 2 Diabetes
Dyslipidemia
Hypertension
The long-term effects of orlistat on morbidity and mortality associated with obesity have not been established.
Managing Patients with Obesity-Related Comorbidities
More about Obesity as a Clinical Condition
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