In a world in which to lose weight seems often synonymous with drastic diets, expensive drugs or surgical interventions, a study that changes the perspective arrives. Losing just 5 kilos after 40 years – without resorting to shortcuts – can really stretch life and protect us from serious chronic diseases. To say it is a research published in the magazine Jama Network Opencreated by a group of Scientists from Finland and the United Kingdom.
The study followed for over three decades more than 23,000 people between 30 and 50 years oldanalyzing the effect of long -term weight loss. The results are clear: even one minimum reduction of body weight, around 6.5%, obtained with changes in lifestyle and not with drugs or surgery, it translates into A drastic reduction in the risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, cancer and respiratory problems.
Only 5 kilos less can change everything
According to research, lose weight in a natural way and maintain a condition of normal It can have lasting and deep effects. Those who managed to switch from a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 to a lower one have seen reduce the risk of chronic diseases up to 57%while the General mortality dropped by 19% in a span of 35 years.
Numbers that tell a simple but powerful truth :. For example, for a person of 80 kilos, losing 5 kilos is enough to obtain these benefits. There is no talk of miracles, but about a more conscious lifestyle: More movement, more vegetables and fresh fruit, less transformed foods and more balanced portions.
The Professor underlined it Timo Strandberggeriatrician of the University of Helsinki and the main author of the study:
“Losing weight without resorting to drugs or interventions is difficult, but our data show that it is possible and brings with it remarkable advantages, such as a reduction in cardiovascular risk and mortality.”
Slimming naturally works
The most important data emerged from the study does not only concern the lost weight, but The way in which it was lost. None of the participants used drugs or immediately surgical interventions: all the results were obtained through a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
And it’s not just a matter of balance numbers. As Dr. Aayush Visariaresearcher at Rutgers University:
The BMI does not tell everything: two people with the same weight can have very different body compositions. Visceral fat, for example, is much more harmful than the subcutaneous one.
The distribution of fat, in fact, is a key factor. The Deep abdominal fatwhich envelops the internal organs, is strongly associated with chronic pathologies. Even if the weight remains similar, reduce this type of fat through physical activity and a vegetable and natural diet It can lead to real benefits.
Another aspect that emerged strongly is the role of the environment: limited access to fresh food, lack of green spaces and cities not suitable for moving on foot or by bike are real obstacles.
As Strandberg concludes:
We need public policies that make it easier to choose the right food and move more. It is the only way to transform individual change into a collective revolution.
An accessible, sustainable and deeply human way to improve the quality of life. Small steps are enough, made with constancy, to build a healthier future. And starting at 40 is more than enough: it is the ideal time to make a difference.