Introduction
Obesity and metabolic syndrome are significant health concerns worldwide. In Japan, lifestyle modification programs are increasingly being utilized to address these issues. Adequate goal-setting is important in health counselling and treatment for obesity and overweight. This article examines the effectiveness of a 6-month lifestyle modification program on weight loss and associated health parameters in a large group of Japanese adults.
Study Design and Participants
The study included 3480 Japanese men and women with "Obesity Disease" or "Metabolic Syndrome." The participants had a mean age of 48.3 years (±5.9 years standard deviation) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 27.7 kg/m² (±2.5 kg/m² standard deviation). The subjects participated in a 6-month lifestyle modification programme (specific health guidance) and underwent follow-up for 6 months thereafter.
Intervention
The core of the study was a 6-month lifestyle modification program. The specifics of this program are not detailed in the provided text, but such programs typically involve dietary adjustments, increased physical activity, and behavioral counseling. Specific health guidance was provided to participants.
Weight Loss Outcomes
Significant weight reduction was observed 6 months after the beginning of the programme, and it was maintained for 1 year. The study revealed varying degrees of weight loss among participants. One-third of the subjects reduced their body weight by ≥3%. The participants were categorized into groups based on their percentage of weight reduction to analyze the impact on obesity-related disease parameters.
Impact on Obesity-Related Disease Parameters
The study demonstrated that even modest weight loss could lead to improvements in various health parameters. The 6-month lifestyle modification programme induced significant weight reduction and significant improvement of parameters of obesity-related diseases.
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1% to <3% Weight Reduction Group: In the group exhibiting 1% to <3% weight reduction, plasma triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) decreased significantly, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increased significantly compared to the control group (±1% weight change group). This suggests that even a small amount of weight loss can positively influence lipid profiles, blood sugar control, and liver function.
3% to <5% Weight Reduction Group: In addition to the improvements of these 7 parameters (out of 11), significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and uric acid (UA) (total 11 of 11 parameters) were observed in the group with 3% to <5% weight reduction. This indicates that a slightly greater weight loss can further improve blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and uric acid levels.
≥5% Weight Reduction Group: All the measured obesity-related parameters were significantly improved in groups with 3% to <5% and ≥5% weight reduction.
Specific Parameter Changes
The study tracked 11 parameters related to obesity-related diseases. Here's a breakdown of the parameters and their significance:
- Plasma Triglycerides (TG): High levels of triglycerides are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
- Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C): Often referred to as "bad" cholesterol, high levels contribute to plaque buildup in arteries.
- High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C): Known as "good" cholesterol, it helps remove LDL-C from the arteries.
- Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): A measure of average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months, used to monitor diabetes.
- Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): Liver enzymes; elevated levels can indicate liver damage.
- γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (γ-GTP): Another liver enzyme; elevated levels can also indicate liver damage or alcohol abuse.
- Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP): Measures of blood pressure; high blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG): Blood sugar level after an overnight fast; elevated levels can indicate diabetes.
- Uric Acid (UA): High levels can lead to gout, a painful inflammatory condition.
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