The 6kg difference

OK, you haven’t reached your target weight, but don’t despair. Lose even a small amount and you’re likely to reverse your risk of developing diseases linked to obesity, according to researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in Sydney, Australia. Being overweight, particularly around the midsection, sparks production of pro-inflammatory immune cells linked to heart disease and other illnesses. Lose a few kilos and these pro-inflammatory cells decline by up to 80%. Says Dr Katherine Samaras, who co-authored the study, “A weight loss of about 6kg is enough to bring the pro-inflammatory nature of immune cells back to that found in lean people.”