HHS HealthBeat (May 4, 2012)

What’s worked in weight loss

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

It is possible for obese people to lose weight, and researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston say national survey data indicates many do. So the researchers also looked at the data to see what worked.

Jacinda Nicklas says it wasn’t the supposed quick fixes, like fad diets, diet foods, or supplements:

“Americans with obesity are having success with some of the tried-and-true methods of weight loss – eating less fat, exercising more, and also using other techniques, like prescription weight loss medicines and commercial weight loss programs.”  (12 seconds)

Nicklas says diet and exercise were big factors that worked.

The study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at healthfinder.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May 4, 2012