Overview

• The observational study followed nearly 23,000 adults for 22–35 years across British civil servants, Finnish businessmen and Finnish public sector workers.
• Participants who lost about 6.5% of their body weight in their 40s without surgery or weight-loss drugs had a 48% lower incidence of chronic conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Those who achieved midlife weight loss also experienced a 19% reduction in all-cause mortality over the extended follow-up period.
• Researchers noted that health benefits emerged gradually over decades and likely reflect sustained lifestyle improvements like healthier diets and regular physical activity.
• The study’s use of BMI as a proxy for body fat and its predominantly white European sample may limit how broadly the findings apply to more diverse populations.