Minor long-term changes in weight have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function in obese subjects.

Aim: To evaluate the long-term effect of changes in body composition induced by weight loss on insulin sensitivity (SI), non-insulin mediated glucose disposal, glucose effectiveness (SG)and beta-cell function.
Design: Glucose metabolism was evaluated before and after participation in a two-year weight loss trial of Orlistat vs. placebo, combined with an energy and fat restricted diet.
Subjects: Twelve obese patients (11 women, 1 man), age 45.8 +/- 10.5 years, body weight (BW) 99.7 +/- 13.3 kg, BMI 35.3 +/- 2.8 kg/m(2).
Measurements: At inclusion and 2 years later an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT) were performed. Body composition was estimated by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) whole body scanning.
Results: The patients obtained varying changes in BW ranging from a weight loss of 17.8 kg to a weight gain of 6.0 kg. Corresponding changes in fat mass (FM) varied from a 40% reduction to a19% increase. A significant decrease in both fasting (p = 0.038) and 2 h (p = 0.047) blood glucose at OGTT was found. The improvement in insulin sensitivity (SI) estimated by means of Bergmans Minimal Model, was significantly and linearly correlated to change in total FM (r = - 0.83,p = 0.0026). A multiple regression analysis showed that changes in truncal FM was the strongest predictor of change in S(I) explaining 67% of the variation. First phase insulin response (AIRg)remained unchanged whereas insulin disposition index increased significantly (p = 0.044). At inclusion five patients had impaired glucose tolerance of which four, who lost weight, were normalized at the retest 2 years later.
Conclusion: In obese subjects long-term minimal or moderate changes in weight were found to be linearly associated with changes in insulin sensitivity. In obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance even a minor weight loss was able to normalize glucose tolerance.