Initial weight loss on an 800-kcal diet as a predictor of weight loss success after 8 weeks: the Diogenes study.

T. Handjieva Darlenska, S. Handjiev, T.M. Larsen, M.A. van Baak, S. Jebb, A. Papadaki, A.F. Pfeiffer, J.A. Martinez, M. Kunesova, C. Holst, W.H.M. Saris, A. Astrup*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective:The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pre-treatment subject characteristics and weight change during the first weeks of a low-calorie diet (LCD) can predict weight loss outcomes at the end of a controlled 8-week weight loss period in overweight and obese adults.Subjects:A total of 932 overweight and obese subjects of both genders were included at eight European centers, and underwent an 8-week LCD period.Results:The weight loss at week 8 was positively correlated with initial body weight (Spearman's rho=0.62), height (rho=0.43), body mass index (rho=0.43), waist (rho=0.48) and hip circumference (rho=0.33), sagittal diameter (rho=0.45), fat mass (rho=0.35) and fat-free mass (rho=0.52), and gender (rho=-0.36) (all P<0.01). In the multivariate regression model, adjusted for center, only initial body weight, early weight loss (week 1) and weight loss at week 3 were significant predictors of weight loss outcome at week 8: weight loss (kg) at week 8=0.09+0.046 x baseline body weight (kg)-0.311 x weight loss (kg) at week 1+1.284 x weight loss (kg) at week 3 (R (2)=68%, P<0.0001). A weight loss of >/=2.6 kg at week 1 during the LCD period was identified as the optimal cut-off predictor for at least 10 kg weight loss at week 8.Conclusions:This study suggests that initial body weight, early weight loss (week 1) and weight loss at week 3 are predictors of final weight loss during an 8-week LCD, and may be used as early biomarkers of subsequent responses to an LCD diet.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition advance online publication, 30 June 2010; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.110.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)994-999
JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume64
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2010

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