Game of Stones: weight loss programme for men being trialled

Abstract Background Finding effective intervention strategies to combat rising obesity levels could significantly reduce the burden that obesity and associated non-communicable diseases places on both individuals and the National Health Service. Methods In this parallel randomised-controlled trial, 76 participants who are overweight or obese (50 female) were given free access to a fitness centre for the duration of the 12-week intervention and randomised to one of three interventions. The commercial intervention, the Healthy Weight Programme, (HWP, n = 25, 10/15 men/women) consisted of twelve 1-h nutrition coaching sessions with a nutritionist delivered as a mixture of group and 1 to 1 sessions. In addition, twice-weekly exercise sessions (24 in total) were delivered by personal trainers for 12 weeks. The NHS intervention (n = 25, 8/17 men/women) consisted of following an entirely self-managed 12-week online NHS resource. The GYM intervention (n = 26, 8/18 men/women) received no guidance or formal intervention. All participants were provided with a gym induction for safety and both the NHS and GYM participants were familiarised with ACSM physical activity guidelines by way of a hand-out. Results The overall follow-up rate was 83%. Body mass was significantly reduced at post-intervention in all groups (HWP: N = 18, − 5.17 ± 4.22 kg, NHS: N = 21–4.19 ± 5.49 kg; GYM: N = 24–1.17 ± 3.00 kg; p < 0.001) with greater reductions observed in HWP and NHS groups compared to GYM (p < 0.05). Out with body mass and BMI, there were no additional statistically significant time x intervention interaction effects. Conclusions This is the first study to evaluate the efficacy of both a free online NHS self-help weight-loss tool and a commercial weight loss programme that provides face-to-face nutritional support and supervised exercise. The findings suggest that both interventions are superior to an active control condition with regard to eliciting short-term weight-loss. Trial registration ISRCTN Registry - ISRCTN31489026. Prospectively registered: 27/07/16.

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Is there a metabolic rationale to support a weight loss programme to prevent diabetes?

The British Journal of Diabetes ◽

10.1177/1474651403003001s0401 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 3 (1_suppl) ◽

pp. S12-S17

Author(s):

Mike Lean

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Body Weight ◽

Ideal Body Weight ◽

Gastric Surgery ◽

Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽

Weight Loss Programme ◽

Intervention Trials ◽

Prevention Of Diabetes

It is well established that the incidences of type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance are very low at ideal body weight (body mass index [BMI] 21—22 kg/m2) but increases with increasing body fat and BMI. Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ which secretes many hormones involved in the regulation of body weight and appetite, including leptin and tumour necrosis factor-alpha, which are related to diabetes development. Weight loss is an important goal within the overall management of diabetes, and recent intervention trials have established that the benefits of weight loss may extend to the prevention of diabetes itself. Weight loss associated with diet and exercise in the DPP and the FDPS, by the anti-obesity drug orlistat in the XENDOS trial, and by gastric surgery in the SOS study all significantly reduced the incidence of diabetes compared with controls. The prevention or reversal of obesity is therefore an increasingly important therapeutic target in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

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