We know that adults with obesity have an increased risk of premature mortality, cardiovascular disease, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, and many other diseases.

However, the effect of dieting on 3 of those outcomes (cancer, cvd, and mortality) is surprisingly little studied.

However a new systematic review and meta-analysis does bring together what we know of that effect, and to explain the evidence we're joined by Alison Avenell, professor in the Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen.

Read the full systematic review and meta-analysis: http://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j4849