Reducing Metabolic Syndrome through a Group Educational Intervention Program in Adults with Obesity: IGOBE Program.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cancer. Despite the higher prevalence of MetS in obese adults, little is known about the effectiveness of intensive and group interventions in improving MetS prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an intensive lifestyle program in reducing the prevalence of MetS in adults with obesity. Patients with obesity (n = 456, 48.8 ± 12.8 years, 18.5% male) were randomized in two groups as indicated in a prospective interventional real-life study: a control group (CG), in which patients received usual care, and an interventional group (IG), in which the patients participate in a healthy lifestyle habits program in six weekly sessions, IGOBE program. Anthropometric, body composition, medications, and MetS features data were analyzed in both groups at the pre-intervention and post-intervention stages using a completer's analysis. At 12 months of follow-up, the IG showed a relative reduction of 13.4% in the prevalence of MetS from baseline, while the CG showed a reduction of 2.1% (p < 0.001). A significant reduction was also observed in four of five MetS features. In this trial, implementation of the IGOBE program resulted in a significant reduction in MetS prevalence and better control of MetS features compared with the standard of care.

Effectiveness to promote weight loss maintenance and healthy lifestyle habits of a group educational intervention program in adults with obesity: IGOBE program.

BACKGROUND: To achieve sustainable weight loss and healthy lifestyle changes is a huge challenge in the fight against obesity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness to promote weight loss maintenance and healthy lifestyle habits of a group educational intervention program, Group Intervention in OBEsity (IGOBE), compared with a usual care therapy to lose weight. METHODS: Patients with obesity (n = 437; 18.5% men, 18-77 years and 40.4 ± 6.7 kg/m2) were randomised into two groups to follow a prospective interventional real-life study: a control group (CG), treated with usual clinical practice, and an intervention group (IG), in which the patients participate in a group intervention program on healthy lifestyle habits with weekly sessions for six weeks, after which a re-evaluation was made at six months and at 12 months of follow-up. After finishing the study dropout rates were 44.6% in CG and 43.4% in IG. Anthropometric, dietetic habits and body composition data were analysed in both groups at the pre-intervention and post-interventions of the subjects by completer's analysis. RESULTS: At 12 months of following IGOBE program, the IG achieved greater weight loss (-7.1% of the initial weight) than the CG, which exhibited a weight gain (3.0% of the initial weight). The body weight change induced in the IG was accompanied by a reduction in fat mass, particularly visceral fat and waist circumference. Relevantly, the IG adhered to a healthy dietary pattern and changed its eating habits, which correlated with the improvement in body weight. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive educational group treatment that induces a change of eating habits and adherence to healthy dietary pattern is more effective in a long-term to counteract obesity traits than a standard treatment performed individually. The IGOBE program could be a cost-effective practice in the clinical management of obesity.