Those who were obese between young adulthood and midlife and lost weight exhibited a significantly lower risk of diabetes compared with those with stable obesity, a recent study found. Using data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES), researchers investigated the association between self-reported weight change from young adulthood to midlife and incident diabetes. Participants were categorized into 4 weight-change groups: those who remained nonobese (stable nonobese), those who moved from an obese BMI to a nonobese BMI (losing), those who moved from a nonobese BMI to an obese BMI (gaining), and those who remained obese (stable obese). Among the findings:

• Those who were obese and lost weight exhibited a significantly lower risk (HR, 0.33) of diabetes vs those with stable obesity.
• There was also a lower risk among those who were stable nonobese (HR, 0.22) and those in the gaining category (HR, 0.70).
• There was evidence of increased incidence of diabetes among obese individuals who lost weight vs those who were stable.
• The study estimated that 9.1% of observed diabetes could have been averted over the 10-year period if those who were obese had become nonobese.