New research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Ben Gurion University has found that almost one-third of people who followed a healthy diet did not lose weight, but still saw meaningful health improvements. The study, published in the *European Journal of Preventive Cardiology*, challenges the common belief that weight loss is the only sign of better health.
Researchers observed that even participants who did not shed pounds showed important gains in their cardiometabolic health. They recorded higher levels of HDL cholesterol, often called the “good” cholesterol, lower levels of leptin, a hormone linked to hunger, and a reduction in visceral fat. Visceral fat surrounds vital organs and is known to raise the risk of serious diseases.
Anat Yaskolka Meir, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard, said the findings offer a new way to measure health success. She noted that people are often seen as failures if they do not lose weight, but the research shows they can still improve their metabolism and lower their long-term disease risk. She described this as a message of hope rather than failure.
The study followed 761 adults with abdominal obesity in Israel who took part in three workplace-based nutrition trials. Participants were assigned to one of several diets, including low-fat, low-carb, Mediterranean, or green-Mediterranean plans, and were tracked for 18 to 24 months. Throughout the study, researchers closely measured changes in weight and metabolism.
Results showed that 36% of participants lost more than 5% of their body weight, which is considered a meaningful reduction. Another 36% lost up to 5% of their weight. The remaining 28% either lost no weight or gained some, and were classified as weight loss-resistant. Yet, even in this group, the researchers found improvements. These individuals, many of whom were older or women, had more good cholesterol, less leptin, and less harmful fat around their organs.
The study also linked each kilogram of weight loss with additional benefits. These included increases in good cholesterol, lower triglycerides, reduced insulin and leptin levels, and less liver fat. Blood pressure and liver enzymes also improved with weight loss.
The research team also identified genetic markers that may predict how people respond to diet. Using advanced tools, they found 12 DNA methylation sites that seem to influence long-term weight loss. Iris Shai, the study’s senior author and a professor at Harvard, said these findings suggest biology plays a major role in weight loss, beyond willpower or discipline.
Researchers noted that most of the study’s participants were men, and future studies should focus more on women to confirm these results across groups.
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