INTRODUCTION. The primary treatment of obesity is changing eating habits and increasing energy expenditure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the annual treatment of women by 1500 kcal balanced diet.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. The program included an assessment of diet, anthropometric and body composition measurements. Quantitative assessment of daily food rations were performed using the computer program Dieta 2. The study included 60 women (average age was 46 ± 12.42 years) and assessed them body mass index (BMI kg/m²). Body composition was determined by bioelectrical impedance. All results were statistically analyzed using STATISTICA 8.0.
RESULTS. There were identified two groups: I - the women who after 12 months of diet gained weight reduction and II in which after the annual diet therapy body weight remained unchanged or increased above baseline. After one year, the average weight loss in women from group I was 4.4 ± 2.9 kg, while in women in group II body weight increased on average of 1.8 ± 1.7 kg. In women from group I the percentage of body fat significantly decreased by an average of 3.9 ± 4.1%. The effects may be dependent on the age and initial body weight of the respondents. There were no statistically significant differences between women menu in group I and II, both at baseline and after low energy diet (however, statistically insignificant differences in the calorie diet and carbohydrate content were observed). Reducing dietary energy value of women in group I correlated positively with reduction in body fat.
CONCLUSIONS. This research shows that more dietetic training is needed in dietary weight loss therapy. In addition to the diet also regular physical activity should be recommended, to increase energy expenditure.
Endocrinology, Obesity and Metabolic Disorders 2010, vol. 6, No 4, 179-188