Effective Weight Loss Strategies for Obese Highlighted by Clinical Trials

Lifestyle interventions, including physical activity and structured weight loss programs can result in significant weight loss, a new study has suggested.

In a one-year intensive lifestyle intervention study of diet and physical activity, Bret H. Goodpaster of the University of Pittsburgh, randomised a group of 130 severely obese adult individuals without diabetes in two groups to assess weight loss for a period of one year.

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One group was randomised to diet and physical activity for the entire 12 months, while the other group had the identical dietary intervention, but with physical activity delayed for six months. The study was conducted from February 2007 with follow-up through April 2010.

"To facilitate dietary compliance and improve weight loss, liquid and pre-packaged meal replacements were provided at no cost for all but one meal per day during months one through three and for only one meal replacement per day during months four through six of the intervention," the authors reported.

"Of 130 participants randomised, 101 (78 percent) completed the 12-month follow-up assessments," the authors stated.

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The group that started with the diet and physical activity lost more weight in the first six months than the delayed-activity group (about 24 pounds as compared to 18 pounds). However, the authors reported that weight loss at 12 months was about the same in the two groups (almost 27 pounds versus about 22 pounds).

"Waist circumference, visceral abdominal fat, hepatic (liver) fat content, blood pressure and insulin resistance were all reduced in both groups," according to the authors.

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"In conclusion, intensive lifestyle interventions using a behaviour-based approach can result in clinically significant and meaningful weight loss and improvements in cardiometabolic risk factors in severely obese persons," authors noted.

The study appeared in the JAMA.

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Source-ANI