The researchers tracked 761 adults over a period of 18 to 24 months. All participants were placed on a healthy diet plan, given gym access, and provided with exercise guidance
People can significantly improve their metabolic health through lifestyle and dietary changes even if they do not lose weight, according to a new international study that offers hope to individuals who are “weight loss resistant.”
The study was conducted by researchers from Ben-Gurion University (Israel), Harvard University (US), and Leipzig University (Germany), and focused on individuals who followed healthy habits but did not experience weight loss. The findings, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, challenge the widely accepted notion that weight loss is the primary indicator of improved health.
“We have been conditioned to equate weight loss with health, and weight loss-resistant individuals are often labeled as failures,” said lead author Anat Yaskolka Meir, a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Chan School’s Department of Epidemiology. “Our findings reframe how we define clinical success. People who do not lose weight can improve their metabolism and reduce their long-term risk for disease. That’s a message of hope, not failure.”
The researchers tracked 761 adults over a period of 18 to 24 months. All participants were placed on a healthy diet plan, given gym access, and provided with exercise guidance. Importantly, the intervention did not include supplements or medications — only lifestyle adjustments.
By the end of the study, about one-third of the participants did not lose weight, despite adhering closely to the prescribed diet and exercise regimen. Yet they exhibited notable improvements in metabolic health.
Among these improvements were increased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) — commonly known as “good” cholesterol — and lower levels of leptin, a hormone associated with fat storage. MRI scans also revealed reductions in abdominal fat, which is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
“These metabolic improvements are clinically significant and suggest that health benefits from lifestyle changes are not solely dependent on weight loss,” the study noted.
In a further breakthrough, researchers identified 12 genetic markers that appear to influence a person’s ability to lose weight through diet and exercise. These markers could eventually help doctors develop personalised diet and fitness strategies based on individual genetic profiles.
The study carries important implications for how both healthcare providers and the general public perceive the success of health interventions. Rather than focusing solely on the number on the scale, the findings suggest that long-term health improvements can be achieved even without visible weight changes.
“Our data provide a strong rationale for encouraging people to pursue healthy lifestyles, regardless of whether they experience immediate weight loss,” Meir said.
The researchers believe this could help reduce stigma around body weight and encourage more inclusive approaches to preventive care, especially for individuals who often feel discouraged when efforts to lose weight don’t yield visible results.
The study is a reminder that health is multifaceted — and that metabolic gains, improved blood markers, and reduced internal fat matter just as much, if not more, than dropping pounds.
