The effect of loss of body weight on lipid profile in overweight individuals

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of reducing body weight and body mass index on serum lipid.

METHODS: This is a prospective longitudinal study, which was implemented in Naim Primary Health Care Center in the Kingdom of Bahrain during May and June of 2004. The study included 55 individuals who were willing to participate. The criteria for the sample selection included being overweight, having high serum lipid and patients' willingness to reduce their weight. The patients were followed up for a 26 weeks period consisting of continuous health education program, maintenance on low caloric diet and exercise to help them reduce their body weight. This period included a lifestyle enhancement awareness program that included 4 health education sessions on weight loss, 4 sessions on weight loss maintenance and frequent and regular visits to the clinic to make sure that those patients were compliant with the given instructions.

RESULTS: The study showed that patients who completed the designed program had a reduction in body weight, body mass index, and lipid level and an increase in physical activity and dietary readiness to control over-eating. Although in both genders there was a significant drop in all the parameters, only body mass index (p<0.002) and cholesterol (p=0.007) showed a statistically significant difference between men and women. In men, cholesterol level at the initial stage of the study was strongly related to the body weight (r=0.65, p<0.002) and body mass index (r=0.83, p<0.0005). Despite that the cholesterol level reduced more in women than men; women decreased less in weight (p<0.0005) and body mass index (p<0.0005) than men.

CONCLUSION: Overweight individuals would benefit from a life enhancement program that increases their awareness on the danger of obesity and helps them in reducing body weight and serum lipid level.