The Risky Business of Weight Loss

Key points

Weight regain occurs in 80 to 95 percent of weight loss efforts, negating their long-term efficacy.

Weight cycling can increase inflammation, reduce muscle mass, and harm cardiovascular health.

Weight loss advice often overlooks patient needs, perpetuating bias and discrimination.

Dieters are often obsessed with the scale. Source: i yunmai / Unsplash

If a doctor gave you a pill for an ailment and told you there was only a 5 to 20 percent chance that the pill would resolve your ailment, would you take it? Maybe you would take your chances. But what if the doctor told you about a list of negative side effects and then told you about its efficacy? Now would you take it?

Health care professionals dole out the “just lose weight” recommendation daily, despite the rigorous evid