Dieting *shortens* lifespan, study finds

Posted by Emily on June 28, 2005 at 22:20:53:

This study should give weight-loss profiteers some nightmares. A study dealing with a focus group in which other factors were screened out discovered that the dieters shortened their lifespans, and ruined their health, while those who did *not* diet lived longer. Every reporter who has written about this study has tried to backpedal or qualify or make excuses for the findings, but the results speak for themselves. The terminology is negative, unfortunately, but the findings are too important not to report -- ............. The Sunday Times - Britain June 26, 2005 Stay f** and live longer – survey casts doubt on dieting Jonathan Leake, Science Editor RESEARCHERS have found that moderately overweight people who diet in the hope of improving their health die slightly younger than people who stay f**. If confirmed, the study could raise serious doubts about the prevailing medical advice to overweight people that they should diet until their weight reduces. It suggests that the physiological and metabolic stresses associated with weight loss could be so great as to outweigh the benefits of being thinner. The research, carried out in Finland, followed nearly 20,000 twins over a period of 24 years. Twins are favoured for such studies because the genetic similarities mean the effects of variations in environment or lifestyle can be picked out more easily. In 1975 they were questioned about their weight and desire to lose weight. The same group was then questioned again in 1981, after which they were monitored for 18 years to see which of them died and from what causes. Professor Jaakko Kaprio, of Helsinki University’s public health department, who co- authored the research, said the results suggested weight loss by overweight but otherwise healthy people could be “hazardous in the long term”. “Losing weight seemed to be associated with higher mortality,” said Kaprio. “One reason for this may be that when people diet to lose weight they lose fat-free tissue as well as fat.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1669568,00.html