Impact of weight loss on the metabolic syndrome

  1. C. C. Case1,
  2. P. H. Jones2,
  3. K. Nelson3,
  4. E. O'Brian Smith4,
  5. C. M. Ballantyne2

Article first published online: 30 OCT 2002

DOI: 10.1046/j.1463-1326.2002.00236.x

Issue

Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

Volume 4, Issue 6, pages 407–414, November 2002

Additional Information

How to Cite

Case, C. C., Jones, P. H., Nelson, K., O'Brian Smith, E. and Ballantyne, C. M. (2002), Impact of weight loss on the metabolic syndrome. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 4: 407–414. doi: 10.1046/j.1463-1326.2002.00236.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

  2. 2

    Section of Atherosclerosis and Lipoprotein Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

  3. 3

    Methodist Wellness Services, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

  4. 4

    Section of Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

* Christie M. Ballantyne, MD, Baylor College of Medicine, 6565 Fannin, MS A-601, Houston, TX 77030, USA. E-mail:cmb@bcm.tmc.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 30 OCT 2002
  2. Article first published online: 30 OCT 2002
  3. Received May 2002; accepted July 2002

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (167K)

Keywords:

  • diet;
  • metabolic syndrome;
  • obesity;
  • weight loss

Aim: Individuals with the metabolic syndrome (MS), a clustering of risk factors [triglycerides, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure (BP), abdominal obesity] defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), are at high risk for coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and may benefit from aggressive lifestyle modification.

Methods: We reviewed 1 year of consecutive patients' charts to determine the prevalence of the MS in obese individuals enrolled in a medically supervised rapid weight loss programme, the correlation of weight change with the components of the MS, and response to diet-induced weight loss.

Results: Out of 185 individuals, 125 (68%) met the NCEP definition of the MS. A moderate decrease in weight (6.5%) induced by a very low calorie diet (VLCD) resulted in substantial reductions of systolic (11.1 mmHg) and diastolic (5.8 mmHg) blood pressure (BP), glucose (17 mg/dl), triglycerides (94 mg/dl) and total cholesterol (37 mg/dl) at 4 weeks (all p < 0.001). These improvements were sustained at the end of active weight loss (average 16.7 weeks; total weight loss 15.1%), with further significant reductions in BP and triglycerides. Weight loss was related to the changes in each criterion of the metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions: The MS is prevalent in two-thirds of obese individuals enrolling in a structured weight loss programme. Moderate weight loss with a VLCD markedly improved all aspects of the MS.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (167K)