[Evaluation of a program for management of metabolic syndrome in adults with overweight and obesity]. / Evaluación de un programa ministerial para manejo del síndrome metabólico en adultos con sobrepeso y obesidad.

BACKGROUND: The Chilean Ministry of Health developed a healthy lifestyles intervention directed to adults with overweight and cardiovascular risk factors, called "Program on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity" (PASAF). AIM: To evaluate the impact of PASAF on nutritional status and metabolic parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed databases from three primary care centers belonging to a municipality of Metropolitan Santiago. We selected adults enrolled in the PASAF during three years (2007-2009). The program lasted four months and included an assessment of anthropometric and metabolic parameters at baseline and at the end, eight workshops with a nutritionist, seven with a psychologist and 32 sessions of physical activity. RESULT: We evaluated 526 subjects aged ≥18 years (93% females), of whom 85.6% attended the last appointment for assessment. Analyzing available data, attendance to workshops was <50% of the scheduled sessions. Weight, body mass index and waist circumference decreased significantly (median: -1.4 kg, -0.6 kg/m² and -3 cm, respectively). The median weight loss was 1.8% of initial weight and 17.1% of participants experienced a decrease ≥5% of their initial weight. There were significant improvements in lipid levels and blood pressure among participants with lower initial excess weight. A reduction in fasting blood glucose was observed only among subjects who lost ≥5% of their initial weight. CONCLUSIONS: The PASAF modestly reduced nutritional parameters. Correction of metabolic parameters was especially effective in less obese subjects. The attendance to workshops was low.

Evaluación de un programa ministerial para manejo del síndrome metabólico en adultos con sobrepeso y obesidad / Evaluation of a program for management of metabolic syndrome in adults with overweight and obesity

Background: The Chilean Ministry of Health developed a healthy lifestyles intervention directed to adults with overweight and cardiovascular risk factors, called "Program on Healthy Eating and Physical Activity" (PASAF). Aim: To evaluate the impact of PASAF on nutritional status and metabolic parameters. Patients and Methods: We analyzed databases from three primary care centers belonging to a municipality of Metropolitan Santiago. We selected adults enrolled in the PASAF during three years (2007-2009). The program lasted four months and included an assessment of anthropometric and metabolic parameters at baseline and at the end, eight workshops with a nutritionist, seven with a psychologist and 32 sessions of physical activity. Result: We evaluated 526 subjects aged ≥ 18 years (93% females), of whom 85.6% attended the last appointment for assessment. Analyzing available data, attendance to workshops was < 50% of the scheduled sessions. Weight, body mass index and waist circumference decreased significantly (median: -1.4 kg, -0.6 kg/m² and -3 cm, respectively). The median weight loss was 1.8% of initial weight and 17.1% of participants experienced a decrease ≥ 5% of their initial weight. There were significant improvements in lipid levels and blood pressure among participants with lower initial excess weight. A reduction in fasting blood glucose was observed only among subjects who lost ≥ 5% of their initial weight. Conclusions: The PASAF modestly reduced nutritional parameters. Correction of metabolic parameters was especially effective in less obese subjects. The attendance to workshops was low.

Association between sarcopenia and mortality in healthy older people.

AIM: To evaluate the association between loss of fat-free mass and mortality among older people. METHODS: Information of healthy Chilean older people evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was used, identifying those who died in a period of 12 years. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify mortality predictors. Life tables were constructed calculating survival using predictive variables. RESULTS: Information from 1413 participants aged 74.3 ± 5.6 years (1001 women), was obtained. During the follow-up (median 1594 days), 221 participants died. The Cox model identified age and appendicular fat-free mass as predictors of death (hazard ratios 1.08 and 0.85, respectively). According to life tables, participants in the lower sex-specific quartile for appendicular fat-free mass/height had significantly higher mortality. This association was significant among participants aged over 73 years. CONCLUSION: A low fat-free mass was predictive of mortality in older people.