Meal Replacements Are as Effective as Structured Weight-Loss Diets for Treating Obesity in Adults with Features of Metabolic Syndrome

Noakes M, Foster PR, Keogh JB, and Clifton PM. J Nutr. 2004;134:1894-1899.

Objective

To compare Slim-Fast meal replacements with a structured weight reduction diet (conventional dietary advice in written form) in overweight and obese Australians with elevated triglycerides.

Methods

Two groups of 66 matched subjects in a randomized, parallel design underwent a 6000 kJ intervention for three months (stage 1) and a further three months (stage 2). One group was the meal replacement (MR) group which was supplied with Slim-Fast products for two meals and consumed a low-fat evening meal and the other was the control group (C) which was supplied with shopping vouchers and followed a low-fat, low-calorie diet. Clients were weighed every two weeks and received structured supervision without professional dietary input, with compliance assessed by 3-day weighed food records. Blood biomarkers were used to assess fruit/vegetable intake and a questionnaire was used to assess attitudes to treatment.

Results

Of the 66 subjects that started the study, 55 completed and 11 withdrew from stage 1 (withdrawals: 7 in the MR group, 4 in the C group). Forty-two subjects continued into stage 2 of the study. Weight loss was 6.3% for the MR group and 6.9% for the C group at 3 months, and 9.4% for the MR group and 9.3% for the C group at 6months. Serum folate and plasma beta-carotene were higher in the MR group. Plasma homocysteine fell in both groups. Dietary fiber intake was higher in the C group and calcium was higher in the MR group.

Conclusion

Slim-Fast meal replacements were as effective a strategy for weight loss as a conventional diet, maintaining weight loss over both a three- and six-month period. The meal replacement program was equal in nutritional adequacy to the conventional diet (with the exception of dietary fiber), and the participants found the meal replacement approach easy to follow and easier to dine out, which may help encourage long-term compliance.

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