Unprocessed red meat in the dietary treatment of obesity: a randomized controlled trial of beef supplementation during weight maintenance after successful weight loss.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of unprocessed red meat in randomized trials has no adverse effects on cardiovascular risk factors and body weight, but its physiological effects during weight loss maintenance are not known. OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the effects of healthy diets that include small or large amounts of red meat on the maintenance of lost weight after successful weight loss, and secondarily on body composition (DXA), resting energy expenditure (REE; indirect calorimetry), and cardiometabolic risk factors. METHODS: In this 5-mo parallel randomized intervention trial, 108 adults with BMI 28-40 kg/m2 (45 males/63 females) underwent an 8-wk rapid weight loss period, and those who lost ≥8% body weight (n = 80) continued to ad libitum weight maintenance diets for 12 wk: a moderate-protein diet with 25 g beef/d (B25, n = 45) or a high-protein diet with 150 g beef/d (B150, n = 35). RESULTS: In per protocol analysis (n = 69), mean body weight (-1.2 kg; 95% CI: -2.1, -0.3 kg), mean fat mass (-2.7 kg; 95% CI: -3.4, -2.0 kg), and mean body fat content (-2.6%; 95% CI: -3.1, -2.1%) decreased during the maintenance phase, whereas mean lean mass (1.5 kg; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.0 kg) and mean REE (51 kcal/d; 95% CI: 15, 86 kcal/d) increased, with no differences between groups (all P > 0.05). Results were similar in intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputation for dropouts (20 from B150 compared with 19 from B25, P = 0.929). Changes in cardiometabolic risk factors were not different between groups, the general pattern being a decrease during weight loss and a return to baseline during weight maintenance (and despite the additional mild reduction in weight and fat mass). CONCLUSIONS: Healthy diets consumed ad libitum that contain a little or a lot of unprocessed beef have similar effects on body weight, energy metabolism, and cardiovascular risk factors during the first 3 mo after clinically significant rapid weight loss.

Leisure-time activity is an important determinant of long-term weight maintenance after weight loss in the Sibutramine Trial on Obesity Reduction and Maintenance (STORM trial).

BACKGROUND: The success rate of long-term maintenance of weight loss in obese patients is usually low. To improve the success rate, determinants of long-term weight maintenance must be identified. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to identify determinants of long-term success in weight maintenance in obese subjects who completed the Sibutramine Trial on Obesity Reduction and Maintenance (n = 261), a multicenter European study of weight loss and weight maintenance in obesity that combines sibutramine treatment with dietary restriction and advice on exercise and behavior. DESIGN: We studied weight maintenance over 18 mo in subjects who had completed a 6-mo weight-loss phase. Factors included in the analysis were initial body weight, the percentage of initial body weight lost, dietary intake, various components of physical activity (measured with the Baecke questionnaire), the type of treatment (sibutramine or placebo), age, and sex. RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis identified treatment group (sibutramine or placebo), the percentage of the initial body weight that was lost during the 6-mo weight-loss phase, and the leisure-time physical activity index as significant determinants of weight maintenance. Together, these 3 factors explained 20% of the variation in weight maintenance (P < 0.001). Dietary factors, age, and sex were not significant predictors of weight-maintenance success in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Weight-maintenance success after weight loss is positively influenced by sibutramine treatment during weight maintenance, by a greater initial weight loss, and by a higher leisure-time physical activity index, which reflects higher levels of activities such as walking and cycling and lower levels of television viewing.

[Steadily changing food consumption of Danes. Clear trends during the period 1995-2001]. / Danskernes fødevareforbrug i stadig aendring. Klare tendenser i perioden 1995-2001.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to describe trends in food habits in Denmark derived from a food frequency survey conducted by the Danish Nutrition Council in 2001 and compare it to similar surveys from 1995 and 1998. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A random population sample of 1000 men and women (aged 15-91 years) were interviewed by telephone. They were asked 13 food frequency questions about nutritionally important foods (yoghurt, milk, cheese, rye bread, wheat bread, sandwiches with fish, fish as the main meal, meat as the main meal, potatoes, rice/pasta, vegetables (two questions) fruit) and about the type of milk and fat spreads most often used. RESULTS: Several of the changes seen from 1995 to 1998 had continued into the 1998-2001 period. The results showed increased frequencies for shredded salad/raw vegetables and rice/pasta, but reduced frequencies for meat as the main meal and potatoes. Fruit consumption had also increased between 1998 and 2001. Average frequencies differed by 13-28%. Another pronounced trend was the increased use of low-fat milk (< or = 0.5% fat) instead of whole milk (42% drinking low-fat milk in 2001 versus 28% in 1998) and the greater numbers who did not spread any kind of fat on their bread (40% versus 22% in 1995, for rye bread). DISCUSSION: In general the observed trends point in the right direction in respect of food-based dietary guidelines and other recommendations. This indicates that the Danish population has been influenced by the nutritional messages and campaigns stressing fat reduction and increased intake of fruit and vegetables. An important factor in this context is the increasing availability of low-fat milk products on the Danish market. Whether or not the positive trends for foods included are supported by the rest of the diet remains to be answered.

[Obesity: one of this century's greatest health challenge?]. / Adipositas: en af århundredets største sundhedsudfordringer?

The prevalence of overweight and obesity exceed 50% in many European countries. Obesity is responsible for 2-8% of all health costs and 10-13% of all deaths in Europe. Only a fraction of patients obtain a medically relevant weight loss of 5-10% through lifestyle intervention. Surgery is limited to severe obesity and is very costly; therefore pharmaceuticals are a relevant alternative. Such treatment is hampered by the lack of official guidelines and a relatively limited effect compared to the expectations of patients as well as medical staff. Guidelines and official subsidies are debated.