Are we losing extra weight, or just living with it?

News briefs

An increasing number of obese or overweight adults are not trying to lose weight, according to an observational study published March 7, 2017, in The Journal of the American Medical Association. Scientists analyzed health surveys of almost 30,000 adults ages 20 to 59, from three periods between 1988 and 2014. During that time, the researchers found that the number of people gaining weight steadily increased (from about 53% of participants to 66%), but the number of people trying to lose weight steadily decreased (from about 56% of participants to 49%). Weight-loss efforts declined most among white men, white women, and black women. The researchers say the trend means that more people are accepting their weight status, especially if previous efforts to lose weight have failed.

But remember: being overweight raises your risk for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and depression. With your doctor’s approval, try to increase activity, such as daily walking.

And change your diet: get rid of all simple sugars; reduce portion sizes; eat more vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fish; and limit alcohol intake to one drink per day if you’re female or one to two drinks per day if you’re male.