Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the long-term maintenance of nutritional changes promoted during an intensive initial intervention to induce body weight loss. The ability of these changes to predict long-term health outcomes was also examined.
Methods: Nutritional variables, body composition, and metabolic markers collected in the RESOLVE project were analyzed before and after a 3-week intensive diet-exercise intervention (Phase 1), and during a subsequent supervision under free living conditions, of 12 months (Phase 2).
Results: As expected, the macronutrient composition of the diet was modified to promote a negative energy balance during Phase 1. The decrease in carbohydrates imposed during this phase was maintained during Phase 2 whereas the increase in protein intake returned to baseline values at the end of the program. Dietary fiber intake was almost doubled during Phase 1 and remained significantly greater than baseline values throughout Phase 2. Moreover, fiber intake was the only nutritional variable that systematically and significantly predicted variations of health outcomes in the study.
Conclusion: The adequacy of dietary fiber intake should be a matter of primary consideration in diet-based weight reduction programs.
Keywords: body weight; diet; exercise; macronutrient.