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Weight loss does not reduce the risk of heart disease
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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A strict diet and intense exercise program aimed at losing weight does not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke in people with type 2 diabetes, according to findings from the National Institutes of Health.
Researchers tested whether actively fighting excess weight and losing body mass can improve cardiovascular health in people with type 2 diabetes.
The study took place at 16 medical centers across the United States. Under the supervision of doctors, 5,145 people took part in the program, with half of them actively engaged in physical exercise and diet, and the other half participating in a general support program for people with type 2 diabetes. The observed patients ranged in age from 45 to 76 years, and 60% of them were women.
Despite the activity and moderate nutrition, scientists note that the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases did not tend to decrease. However, the overall improvement in health in patients is still observed - this is a decrease in the need for frequent use of drugs, a decrease in episodes of sleep apnea and an improvement in the quality of life of people. The subjects who led an active lifestyle were able to lose 8% of their initial body weight after just one year of starting the program. Those participants who were involved in the support program were able to get rid of only 1% of their initial weight.
"Assumptions about the impact of extra pounds on the cardiovascular system have not been confirmed. But this does not mean that physical exercise and properly organized nutrition are not necessary at all; on the contrary, patients with such a diagnosis can feel better and reduce the number of medications they take if they keep fit," the researchers say.
The data obtained is currently being fully analyzed to provide a complete picture of cardiovascular disease. Specialists are preparing a report on the results of the work.
Type 2 diabetes affects nearly 24 million people in the United States alone. The disease's toll is rising alongside the obesity epidemic. Heart disease is the most common cause of death among people with type 2 diabetes.