Modified Food Selection Improves Obesity-Related Metabolic Disturbances Independent from Weight Loss

Dietary therapy has been shown to be important to reduce weight and other risk factors for CVD if a high-risk pattern is present. We investigated if modified food selection improved obesity-related metabolic disturbance independ- ently from weight loss in a prospective cohort study. After a comprehensive 4-week residential period which stressed healthy food, physical training, and stress management, patients were followed for one year. The most common diagnoses besides obesity were hypertension, type-2 diabetes and dyslipidemia. A dietary questionnaire was completed at the first visit and after one year. Weight loss resulted in lower blood glucose (B-Glu) Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.45, p<0.001, serum triglyceride (S-TG) OR = 2.80, p<0.001 and serum urate (S-Urate) OR = 2.62, p<0.001. With less fat on bread body weight was reduced (OR = 2.46, p<0.01), and with less candy S-HDL was increased (OR = 1.72, p<0.01) and S-Urate was decreased (OR = 2.10, p<0.001). A decrease in S-Urate was not found associated with more fruit and berries (OR = 0.48 p<0.05), less cheese (OR = 0.38, p<0.05) or less milk (OR = 0.50 p<0.05). Less coffee was associated with decreased sys- tolic blood pressure (SBP) OR = 1.85, p<0.05. Modified food selection was associated with improved risk factor levels independently from weight loss.