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Background: Lifestyle choices such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and smoking contribute to modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.Objectives: To evaluate clinical outcomes (blood pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin [A1C] level, lipid profile, weight, and waist circumference) that affect CV disease and the American Heart Association (AHA) Life's Simple 7 score before and after completion of a weight loss program focusing on a high-protein, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, and low-fat diet.Practice Description: Independent pharmacy in Richmond, VA.Practice Innovation: Pharmacist-led weight loss program focusing on a high-protein, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, and low-fat diet.Evaluation Methods: A retrospective analysis of electronic patient records was conducted to evaluate a pharmacist-led weight loss program focusing on a high-protein, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, and low-fat diet. Baseline information included age, gender, race, height, comorbid conditions, diet, physical activity, and smoking status. Clinical CV outcomes (blood pressure, A1C level, lipid profile, weight, and waist circumference) were compared from baseline and at completion. Participants beginning calculated AHA Life's Simple 7 score was compared with the calculated score at completion. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze data.Results: Fourteen participants completed the program. Improvements in risk factors included systolic blood pressure (5.79 ± 5.56 mm Hg, P < 0.005), diastolic blood pressure (2.57 ± 3.37 mm Hg, P < 0.012), A1C level (0.6% ± 0.99%, P < 0.001), total cholesterol (22.21 ± 17.79 mg/dL, P < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (18 mg/dL, P < 0.041), weight (11.06 ± 5.65 kilograms, P < 0.001), and waist circumference (5.44 ± 4.24 centimeters, P < 0.001). The AHA Life's Simple 7 scores increased after the weight loss program (3.21 ± 0.89, P < 0.001).Conclusion: A community-based, pharmacist-led weight loss program focusing on a high-protein, low-calorie, low-carbohydrate, and low-fat diet improved participants' AHA Life's Simple 7 scores and modifiable risk factors for CV disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been several recent advances in the field of obesity medicine in the areas of structured behavioral therapies, medically supervised diet programs, pharmacotherapy, and new interactive technologies. Patients with obesity now have several options for treatment beyond the standard lifestyle modifications of reducing calories and increasing exercise. Although bariatric surgery is the gold standard of treatment for patients with severe obesity, the problem of recidivism despite surgical intervention has lead obesity medicine specialists to develop multiple treatment modalities. The addition of tailored dietary intervention, targeted behavioral therapies, and the use of Food and Drug Administration approved antiobesity pharmacotherapy can allow patients to augment weight loss or to treat weight regain after bariatric surgery and endoscopic bariatric procedures. New technologies and web-based weight loss applications can allow patients to self-monitor in between office visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary We systematically reviewed the randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence for long-term (≥12 months) weight management interventions for obese men in contrast to women to help understand whether programmes should be designed differently for men. We searched 11 databases up to October 2014. Twenty-two RCTs reported data separately for men and women in weight loss or weight maintenance interventions. We found men were under-represented in RCTs of weight loss interventions open to both sexes. Men comprised 36% of participants (4771 from 13,305 participants). Despite this, men were 11% (95% CI 8–14%, p < 0.001) more likely to be trial completers compared to women. The trials did not report service user consultation and none were designed to investigate whether men and women responded differently to given interventions. Our meta-analysis of 13 trials showed no significant difference in weight loss between men and women, either for weight loss in kg ( p = 0.90) or percentage weight loss ( p = 0.78), although men tended to lose more weight with intensive low fat reducing diets, with or without meal replacements, and structured physical activity/exercise programmes than women. Orlistat was less beneficial for men for weight maintenance. Individual support and tailoring appeared more helpful for men than women. We found evidence that men and women respond differently to, and have different preferences for, varying types of weight management programme. We suggest that it is important to understand men's views on weight loss, as this is likely to also improve the uptake and effectiveness of programmes for men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the effect of a 2-year period of dietary intervention and changes on the intake of certain food groups on the serum concentration of magnesium, zinc, copper, and selenium. Topics include the Dietary Intervention Randomized Control Trial (DIRECT), low-fat, Mediterranean, and low-carbohydrate diets, and the results which predict that lower intake of sweets and cakes and higher consumption of pasta, cereals, and bread can lead to higher zinc, copper, and selenium.

The article presents a study which examines the impact of reduced-fat or reduced-carbohydrate hypocaloric diets on the left ventricular mass and function in overweight and obese subjects. The study conducted the diet intervention and obtained cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ambulatory blood pressure in 170 overweight subjects. The study found that reduced-carbohydrate diet led to significant decreases in left ventricular mass.

The article discusses the effect that changing the intake of specific food groups has on weight loss during a multi-strategy two-year intervention study. Data obtained from 322 participants who had changes in their intake of 12 food groups indicate that increasing the weight intake of vegetables and decreasing the weight intake of sweets and cakes account for rapid weight loss across all dietary strategies.

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Komplementaere und Integrative Medizin is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: Objective: To investigate whether there is a difference in palatability and perceived hunger between high- and low-fat diets, and furthermore to see if any such differences are correlated with the degree of adherence to a diet and with weight reduction. Design: Randomised, parallel, two-arm, open-label 10-week dietary intervention study comparing two hypocaloric (−600kcal/day) diets with a fat energy percent of 20–25 or 40–45. Subjects: Obese (BMI ≥30kg/m2) but otherwise healthy adult subjects (n = 100). Measurements: Perceived hunger, palatability of diet, difficulty of following dietary instructions and adherence to diet by visual analogue scales, and body weight loss. Results: There were no significant differences between the low- and high-fat groups in perceived hunger, palatability, difficulty of following instructions, nor adherence to the diet. There were significant trends towards lower perceived hunger during the trial [F(1, 86)=49.99, p <.001], towards increased perceived adherence [z =2.851, p =.004], and towards less perceived difficulty of following both diets during the second and third week [F(1, 86)=23.51, p <.001]. Median weight loss was 7%. The patients who reached at least median weight loss decreased their perceived hunger significantly more than the group who did not [F(1, 85)=4.12, p =.046], and had less difficulty of following instructions throughout the treatment period [F(1, 85)=4.35, p =.040]. There was a strong negative correlation between perceived hunger and palatability [−.55] as well as between difficulty of following instructions and palatability [−.45], and a strong positive correlation between difficulty of following instructions and perceived hunger [.63] with both diets. Conclusions: The perceived hunger during the diet intervention and palatability of the diet are important factors for succeeding with weight reduction. The fat proportion of the diets was not important for determining perceived hunger and palatability. These findings suggest that the ability to compose a palatable and satiating diet may be important for successful weight reduction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Low-carbohydrate “ketogenic” diets have increased in popularity over recent years as a means of weight loss. Published studies of these diets have been highly heterogeneous, and it remains unclear to what degree dietary carbohydrate intake must be restricted in order to induce ketosis. Despite concern that they are often relatively high in fat, ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets have been generally shown to compare favourably with low-fat diets in terms of weight loss and improvements in triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein levels. This review includes a brief overview of ketone body metabolism, and summarises the literature regarding the safety and efficacy of ketogenic diets for weight loss. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

During the last two decades, obesity rates in the United States have escalated dramatically, and intense media coverage of obesity issues has fueled consumer interest in low-carbohydrate diets designed to promote rapid weight loss. The food industry has fostered the assumption that a drop in carbohydrate consumption will translate into a drop in weight. Studies of low-carbohydrate dieters, however, have indicated that weight loss is due primarily to calorie reduction rather than carbohydrate restriction. When low-fat foods were heavily promoted, dieters assumed consumption of reduced-fat or fat-free foods would result in weight loss, unaware that calorie consumption could increase even if fat intake was reduced. This pattern is likely to be repeated if escalating consumption of low-carbohydrate foods translates into increased calorie intake. Once polarized, low-fat and low-carbohydrate advocates, as well as health professionals, have moved toward agreement on a number of critical points designed to promote weight loss as well as to prevent chronic disease. These groups recommend a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, and fish. Despite this congruence, the weight loss industry aggressively continues to market new diets, products, and services. Ironically, as the diet business becomes more profitable, obesity rates continue to climb in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]