Meal replacements have been proven to be a successful strategy for weight loss. Researchers examined whether a meal replacement approach might be an effective way for low-income patients to lose weight.
Objective:
To determine whether a program of a reduced-calorie diet that includes meal replacements is an effective weight loss strategy for low-income patients at the Venice Family Clinic (VFC) in Los Angeles.
Methods:
Over a 6-month period, 63 patients (51 F; 49 + 0.8yo) who had been followed at the Venice Family Clinic by their primary care physician for at least 6 months were enrolled. Patients enrolled in the study were, on average, morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 40kg/m2). They were 72% Hispanic, 25% Caucasian, and 3% African American.
Patients consumed two Slim·Fast meal replacements and one portion-controlled meal per day. Total calorie intake for patients ranged from 800 to 1800 calories per day based on the individual. Protein intake was 0.5-1 g/kg of lean body weight. Patients met occasionally with volunteer dietitians and were also counseled on low-fat, low-carbohydrate diets, and were counseled about exercise at the beginning of the program. They were encouraged to walk at least 3 times per week for 30 minutes and do isometric exercise as tolerated.
Results:
Weights at the first visit to the nutrition clinic, and 1, 3, and 6 months after enrollment were compared to weights at the same time intervals during routine visits to primary care doctors (PMD) prior to enrollment in the study.
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Results (continued):
Prior to the meal replacement study, there was no significant weight loss despite receiving care by a PMD. At 6 months after initiation of the meal replacement nutrition program, there was a 7.5% decrease in BMI compared to baseline (a reduction from 40 to 37 kg/mm2; P ≤ 0.05%). While the majority (44.5%) did not lose more than 5% of body weight at 6 months compared to baseline, a significant number of patients (32%) were able to lose 5-10% of their body weight at 6 months, and importantly, 22% lost more than 10%.
CONCLUSION:
A reduced-calorie diet that includes meal replacements is an effective way for low-income patients to achieve clinically significant weight loss.
Meal replacements offer a cost-effective approach for weight loss, as the cost of meal replacements is less than the food typically purchased and as importantly, provides a more nutritious option. In addition, a meal replacement plan may potentially eliminate poor food choices, while effectively reducing total daily calorie intake.
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