Combining healthy dietary practices with regular physical activity is the most effective non-drug strategy for achieving sustained weight loss and improving key metabolic health indicators among adults with overweight or obesity, according to a major review by the ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) here.
India and other lower-middle-income countries remained under-represented, highlighting the need for more locally relevant research, said a press release on Saturday. Researchers found that all major non-pharmacological interventions produced statistically significant, though generally modest, reductions in body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI). Lifestyle interventions such as behavioural counselling, goal-setting, self-monitoring and health education also showed positive outcomes, with their effectiveness improving over time. Beyond weight loss, the study highlighted significant improvements in metabolic health.
However, the combination of diet and physical activity delivered the most sustained results, with participants losing an average of 3.68 kg beyond 12 months compared with control groups. The combination of diet and physical activity produced the greatest benefits in blood sugar control, reducing fasting blood glucose levels and insulin resistance after 12 months. Mr.Mummadi noted that although the review drew evidence from more than 50 countries, most studies originated from high-income and upper-middle-income nations.
