This definitive version of this article is available at: www.blackwell-synergy.com and was published in Obesity Reviews 2007;99(2):170-6. at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/117981306/home Title: Long-term weight loss effects on all cause mortality in overweight/obese populations Amudha S Poobalan 1 , Lorna S Aucott 1 , W Cairns S Smith 1 , Alison Avenell 2 , Roland Jung 3 , John Broom 4 1 Departments of Public Health and 2 Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen 3 NHS Tayside, Dundee 4 NHS Grampian, Aberdeen and The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen Key words: long-term; weight loss; mortality; systematic review Running title: Weight loss and long-term mortality outcomes Acknowledgements This review was funded by the National Health Service (NHS) R&D Health Technology Assessment Programme. The Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, is core-funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department. We thank Tamara Brown, Research Fellow, School of Health and Social Care, University of Teeside, Middlesbrough; Professor Adrian Grant, Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen; and Professor Mo Malek (deceased), Health Economics, University of St. Andrews, for their contributions. Corresponding Author: Dr Amudha Poobalan, Dept of Public Health, Medical School, Forresterhil, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD Tel: +44 (0)1224 555 934 Fax: +44 (0)1224 550 925 Email: a.poobalan@abdn.ac.uk 1