Weekly wisdom

September 25, 2026 | Read online

Why The Road To Better Health Often Runs Through Your Diet

A 2-year trial aimed for a 25% calorie cut. People averaged 12%, and still lost weight and slowed their risk of heart disease and diabetes.

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Number You Won’t Forget: 12%

Eating 12% Fewer Calories Can Do A Lot More Than Support Weight Loss

Most diets are built around a large calorie cut, which helps explain why so many are difficult to sustain. A two-year study aimed for a 25% reduction. The participants didn’t come close.

They averaged about 12%. But even at half of the goal, that was still enough to produce the changes that mattered.

Eating at a calorie deficit of 12% led to significant weight loss that reduced their estimated diabetes risk and slowed the projected rise in 10- and 30-year risk of cardiovascular disease.