Recent weight loss research found that long-term weight loss is difficult.  

I found an article just after the holidays that was very depressing for me.  While searching for research to back up another post, I found an article on CBC – Canada entitled “Obesity Research Confirms Long-term Weight Loss Almost Impossible”​[1]​ that touted recent studies proving that lasting weight loss was impossible. This article made me severely doubt my success, and I considered just giving up.  The next day, I decided to reread the article and look at it from a scientific perspective.  

The Obama administration under the leadership of Michelle Obama had put forth sweeping changes to the nutrition provided in our school systems.  A good portion of which ends up in the garbage can because children just won’t eat the healthier alternatives that the education system provides.  The question I have after reading the above article is, are we in a losing battle with weight?  It appears that this research report may have found the answer but if it is impossible, why do so many people have success, and is there any value to trying?  

Humans are biological creatures that have been designed with one means in mind: survival.  We have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years to become what we are today.  Our everyday existence revolves around this purpose.  We have strong drives that force us to survive as a creature in a very rough world.  Our most powerful drives are to eat, sleep, socialize, and procreate and they each center on furthering human existence.  Hunger is one of the strongest of the drives we have, and it’s there to keep us alive even in times of drought and famine but are we not fighting a losing battle with obesity because of it?

The premise behind the study is a new research study that points to a “truth that is emerging from the science of obesity.”   The article continues by saying that “after years of research, it’s becoming apparent that it’s nearly impossible to lose weight permanently.”  I should have stopped reading after the tagline for the article which is “No known cure for obesity except surgically shrinking the stomach.”  The bottom line is that this article does not state anything new.  It uses a research study that found that it is difficult to lose weight not that it was impossible.  I don’t need to waste money on a research study to point this out to me.  We have always known and reinforced this concept every day that we walk by the bread, pasta, or candy aisle in the grocery store.  

Long-term weight loss is hard, and I don’t need a research study to indicate or prove this.  This article paints it as an impossibility and the thing of legends or a real utopian pipe dream that is not worth even attempting for the average overweight or obese person.  The article quotes a statistic that only 5% of those who attempt weight loss will succeed at long-term weight loss to illustrate their point.  This concept depends on what you deem as a success in my professional opinion.  There is plenty of research to prove this completely false.  Losing weight lowers your risk of some diseases and raises it for others, but overall, weight loss is good whether you keep if off or not and some benefits last long after the diet ends even if you gain most if not all of the weight back.  

Example Definitions of Weight Loss Success:

• Wing and Hill defined successful weight loss maintenance as “individuals who have intentionally lost at least 10% of their body weight and kept it off at least one year.”​[2]​.

These goals are not all-encompassing, but you can see that they are very different.  The definition of success needs to be defined by the individual and not their physician or friends.  The reason why this article points out that long-term weight loss is impossible is that they put an unrealistic expectation on our metabolic systems.  It is hard to lose weight, but it is not impossible.

Research backing up weight loss attempts and the potential for success:

• Successful weight loss is possible.  The National Weight Control Registry is full of success stories.  In fact, one review article quoted that 20% of subjects obtained a 10% weight loss and maintained if for 5.5 years​[5]​.  If that is not a success, I do not know what is.

Wing and Phalen in “Long-term weight loss maintenance” identified 6 key elements that were found in most of the subjects of the National Weight Control Registry.   They found that success center around: “1) engaging in high levels of physical activity; 2) eating a diet that is low in calories and fat; 3) eating breakfast; 4) self-monitoring weight on a regular basis; 5) maintaining a consistent eating pattern; and 6) catching “slips” before they turn into larger regains”​[8]​.

Don’t let the hogwash put out in one article convince you that your attempt down the path to health is a waste of time and energy.  All of the research I presented indicates a successful change that would result in improved health for most subjects.  You can do this.  Each step you take is just one step to a new, healthier you.  Don’t let the article on CBC or any other article saying weight loss is impossible taunt you to fail.  The CBC article is sensationalistic and is there to generate hits.  I want to encourage you to be successful.  I couldn’t care less how many hits I get.