Losing just 5% of body weight in middle age could cut stroke risk, study finds

A 5 per cent weight loss in middle age was linked to better cardiovascular health later in life, potentially reducing stroke risk, a UK study suggests.

Researchers found that overweight adults who lost a modest amount of weight in their 40s and 50s had similar heart and metabolic health in later life to people who had consistently maintained a healthy weight.

By age 62, both groups had comparable blood pressure, cholesterol levels and markers of inflammation, all factors associated with cardiovascular health and conditions including stroke.

The findings come from a University College London (UCL) study examining health data from more than 6,000 people born in the UK in 1958.

Charis Bridger-Staatz, lead author and senior research fellow in population health at UCL’s Centre for Longitudinal Studies, said the findings challenged the assumption that declining health was an inevitable part of ageing.

Bridger-Staatz said: “Just a modest reduction in weight in people’s 50s may make a real difference to their health, potentially improving their quality of life and reducing their risk of heart issues.”

Researchers analysed participants’ body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight relative to height, and identified the highest BMI each person had reached by age 42.

They then examined whether participants had lost or gained at least 5 per cent of their body weight by age 50 and whether that change was maintained at age 55.

Blood pressure, cholesterol and inflammation measurements were also analysed to assess cardiovascular and metabolic health later in life.

Overweight participants who lost weight during middle age had health profiles at 62 that closely resembled those of people who had maintained a healthy weight throughout adulthood.

Poor cardiovascular and metabolic health can increase the risk of serious conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.

The findings suggest that relatively small, sustained weight reductions in middle age may be associated with better cardiovascular and metabolic health later in life.

However, the study was observational, meaning it cannot establish whether weight loss directly caused the differences in cardiovascular and metabolic health.

The researchers also acknowledged other limitations and said obesity prevention efforts should not focus solely on younger age groups.

Bridger-Staatz said: “While obesity prevention strategies rightly place strong emphasis on children and young people, these findings indicate that prevention efforts should also extend to people in their 50s.

“Although this is often perceived as a stage of life when meaningful health change is no longer possible, our research shows that it’s never too late to start making changes to improve your health.”

The study also found that further weight gain during middle age was associated with worsening cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Study co-author Laura Gimeno said: “These results show that the benefits of weight loss may extend beyond short-term weight reduction. Our findings support current interest around expanding access to effective weight-loss support, including weight-loss medications.

“They also highlight the importance of reducing further weight gain in midlife, as this was consistently linked to the fastest deterioration in heart and metabolic health.”

The researchers believe the findings support greater attention to weight management in middle age, with even modest, sustained changes potentially associated with better long-term cardiovascular health.

Although the study does not show that losing 5 per cent of body weight directly prevents stroke, it suggests that maintaining weight loss during middle age may be associated with a healthier profile of risk factors for stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.