Summary
Obesity is associated with reduced HRV, but weight loss—even without additional exercise—improves autonomic function. The magnitude of HRV improvement correlates with the amount of weight lost.
Methods
Meta-analysis of weight loss interventions and HRV outcomes
Key Findings
- Obesity associated with 15-30% lower RMSSD vs normal weight
- 5-10% weight loss improved RMSSD by 8-15%
- Both surgical and non-surgical weight loss effective
- Improvements seen within 3-6 months of sustained weight loss
Limitations
Weight regain may reverse HRV improvements
What This Means for You
If you're overweight and have low HRV, weight loss is one of the most effective interventions. Even modest weight loss (5-10%) can meaningfully improve HRV, and the benefits appear within months.
Source
Read the original paper in International Journal of Obesity ↗
Added to HRV Zone: 2025-01-09