Health benefits of a 4-month group-based diet and lifestyle modification program for individuals with metabolic syndrome

Tahna L Pettman; Jonathan D Buckley; Gary M H Misan; Alison M Coates; Peter R C Howe

doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2009.06.002

Health benefits of a 4-month group-based diet and lifestyle modification program for individuals with metabolic syndrome

Obes Res Clin Pract. 2009 Nov;3(4):221-35. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2009.06.002.

Authors

Tahna L Pettman¹, Jonathan D Buckley², Gary M H Misan¹, Alison M Coates³, Peter R C Howe³

Affiliations

¹ Spencer Gulf Rural Health School, c/- University of South Australia Whyalla campus, Whyalla, Australia.
² ATN Centre for Metabolic Fitness and Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Frome Rd, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia. Electronic address:jon.buckley@unisa.edu.au.
³ ATN Centre for Metabolic Fitness and Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Frome Rd, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.

PMID: 24973150
DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2009.06.002

Abstract

Background: Individualised highly prescriptive lifestyle programs for obesity management tend to be limited by resource constraints and difficulty with uptake.

Aim: To evaluate the health benefits of a minimally prescriptive group-based lifestyle intervention in participants with the metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: 153 obese adults with MetS were randomised to intervention (INT) or control (CON) for 16 weeks. INT was provided with education, practical strategies and group-based support to achieve diet and physical activity (PA) modifications based on Australian national guidelines. Anthropometric, cardio-metabolic, physical fitness and diet assessments were undertaken at baseline and 16 weeks.

Results: Compared with CON, INT demonstrated greater improvements in weight, BMI, body fat mass and percent, abdominal fat mass (AbdoFat) and waist circumference; systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure; total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; physical work capacity (PWC) and handgrip strength (p < 0.01, group × time for all). Energy intake and % energy from saturated fat (%Sfat) decreased in both groups (p < 0.05 for time). Dietary glycemic index (GI) decreased more in INT (p < 0.01, group × time). Reductions in weight, waist and AbdoFat were associated with reductions in %Sfat (r = 0.379, 0.306, 0.319, respectively; p < 0.01) and GI (r = 0.308, 0.411, 0.296, respectively; p < 0.01). Reductions in AbdoFat were inversely related to increased PWC (r = -0.385; p < 0.001). Withdrawals were similar in INT (6%) and CON (14%) (p = 0.48).

Conclusions: A group-based minimally prescriptive lifestyle modification program with a high retention rate achieved significant improvements in body composition, physical and cardio-metabolic fitness. Group-based programs may provide an achievable and effective, but less resource intensive, method for obesity and MetS management than individualised approaches.