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Effect of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet and exercise program on body cell mass and cardiovascular risk factors in obese women

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 62, pages 892–897 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the effects of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet (MHMD) and exercise program on body cell mass (BCM) and cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese women.

Subjects/Methods:

Forty-seven obese women, 39.7±13.2 years of age, with a body mass index (BMI)=30.7±6.0 kg/m2, completed the study. The following were measured at baseline, 2 and 4 months: BCM, BCM index (BCMI), body weight, BMI, fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW) and intracellular water (ICW) using bioelectrical impedance analysis; fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) concentrations; systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure.

Results:

Body weight, BMI, FM, TC and TG significantly decreased (P<0.001; P<0.002 (TG)) at 2 and 4 months. FFM, TBW, ECW, FBG and DBP significantly decreased at 2 months (P<0.05 (FFM); P<0.001). LDL-C significantly decreased (P<0.001), while HDL-C significantly increased (P<0.002) at 4 months. BCM, BCMI, ICW and SBP remained stable over time.

Conclusion:

BCM was preserved and cardiovascular disease risk factors improved in obese women placed on a MHMD and exercise program for 4 months.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Human Physiology, University ‘Tor Vergata’, Rome, Italy

    A Andreoli

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Policlinico S. Andrea, La Sapienza II, Rome, Italy

    S Lauro

  3. Department of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, University ‘Tor Vergata’, Rome, Italy

    N Di Daniele & M Celi

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, University ‘Tor Vergata’, Rome, Italy

    R Sorge

  5. Division of Biobehavioral and Health Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    S L Volpe

Authors
  1. A Andreoli
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  2. S Lauro
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  3. N Di Daniele
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  4. R Sorge
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  5. M Celi
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  6. S L Volpe
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Correspondence to A Andreoli.

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Guarantor: A Andreoli.

Contributors: AA, NDD, and SL designed the study. AA and MC were responsible for data collection. SL and NDD were responsible for data collection and supervised analyses of blood samples. RS performed the statistical calculations and data analyses. AA and SLV conducted analyses and wrote the original paper. All authors contributed to interpretation of data and critically revised the paper.

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Andreoli, A., Lauro, S., Di Daniele, N. et al. Effect of a moderately hypoenergetic Mediterranean diet and exercise program on body cell mass and cardiovascular risk factors in obese women. Eur J Clin Nutr 62, 892–897 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602800

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