Effect of Weight Management Programs on Cardiometabolic Risk Profile in Overweight Women
Effect of Weight Management Programs on Cardiometabolic Risk Profile in Overweight Women
Aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate whether a diet with meal
 replacements can be as effective as a conventional energy-restricted modified diet on weight
 loss, body composition and cardiometabolic risk profile in overweight women. Moreover, the
 impact of these two different weight management strategies was observed on cardiometabolic
 risk profile after a self-directed weight stabilization phase following the weight loss
 phase. After that, the effect of a specific micronutrient composition with omega-3 fatty
 acids versus placebo on cardiometabolic risk was observed during a following phase of weight
 loss maintenance.
Abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia and hypertension are essential risk factors for
 cardiovascular diseases. Several studies showed favorable effects of weight loss in
 overweight subjects on cardiometabolic risk profile.

 The study was divided into a 3-month weight loss phase (phase 1), a subsequent 3-month phase
 of weight stabilization (phase 2) and a 6-month phase of weight loss maintenance (phase 3).

 For a total of 6 months subjects were randomly assigned to the meal replacement (MR) or
 control (C) group at baseline I.

 During weight loss phase both dietary intervention groups followed an energy-restricted diet
 with a balanced variety of nutrient-dense food of approximately 1200 kcal/d. The MR-WL group
 (MR group during weight loss phase) was advised to replace two of three meals every day with
 meal replacements. The C-WL group (C group during weight loss phase) was advised to follow a
 conventional energy-restricted modified diet with 15-20% of energy intake in the form of
 protein, 50-55% of energy intake in the form of carbohydrates and 30% of energy intake in the
 form of fat. All participants attended ten group training sessions for nutrition education.

 During weight stabilization phase all women of MR-S and C-S group (MR and C group during
 weight stabilization phase) were encouraged to consume a self-directed well-balanced variety
 of nutrient-dense foods without meal intervention. However, the MR-S and C-S group were
 instructed to continue the implemented nutrition advice of weight loss phase.

 At the beginning of weight loss maintenance phase (baseline II) women were randomly assigned
 to the verum (specific micronutrient composition with omega-3 fatty acids) group or placebo
 group. Both groups were encouraged to consume a self-directed well-balanced variety of
 nutrient-dense foods.

 All women participated in an exercise program (fitness walking) on 1-2 days per week during
 all three phases of the study for a total of 12 months.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  BMI: between 27.0 and 34.9 kg/m²

 -  One of the following blood lipids: total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL, LDL-cholesterol ≥
 175 mg/dL, HDL-cholesterol ≤ 50 mg/dL, TG 150-400 mg/dL

 -  women, 18-60 years

 Specific Exclusion Criteria:

 -  lactose or protein intolerance

 -  hypo- or hyperthyroidism

 -  pharmacological treatment of diabetes

 -  intake of vitamins or mineral supplements

 -  anticoagulants

 -  cardiac pacemaker

 -  contraindications to exercise