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Background & Objectives: Obesity is associated with metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance. Weight loss is always recommended for meaningful reduction in these abnormalities. Therefore, we examined the effects of balanced low calorie diet on weight loss, fasting insulin and insulin resistance in obese women attending the nutrition clinic.

Methods: In this clinical trial, forty five volunteer apparently healthy obese women (body mass index: 33.28 ± 2.90 kg/m² and age: 28.40 ± 7.98 years) were recruited from the nutrition clinic in their first visit. The participants were received a balanced low calorie diet over 6 months after anthropometry measurement and blood sampling for determination of fasting insulin and insulin resistance level. Balanced low calorie diet was an individualized diet with an energy deficit of 500 calories of daily energy intake that was calculated from 3-day food records for every person. At 6 months after intervention, continuous and dichotomous variables were assessed using paired t-test and McNemar test, respectively.

Results: The mean recommended energy intake was 2241.78 ± 219.02(kcal). After 6 months, there were significant reductions in body weight (p=0.003), body mass index (p=0.005), waist and hip circumferences (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). There was also significant improvement in fasting insulin level (13.47 ± 6.55 vs. 11.95 ± 4.17 µU/ml, p=0.01). Whereas, insulin resistance had not significant reduction (p=0.1).

Conclusion: In obese women attending the nutrition clinic, the balanced low calorie diet resulted in weight loss and improvement in fasting insulin. These positive changes can help to decrease the risk factor profile in obese individuals.

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Background & objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate 8 weeks individualized balanced low calorie diet on anthropometric measurements in apparently healthy obese women.
Methods: Forty apparently healthy obese women (age: 18-40 years and 27.5≤BMI≤40 kg/m²) were recruited from the nutrition clinic in Ardabil city. The participants received a balanced low calorie diet after anthropometric measurements. Paired T-test was used to compare the changes during 8 - week intervention.
Results: Individualized balanced low calorie diet resulted in a significant decrease in body weight (-3.99±0.34 kg, p<0.001), body mass index (-1.61±0.14 kg/m², p<0.001), waist circumference (-2.91±0.32 cm, p<0.001), hip circumference (-1.89±0.37 cm, p<0.001), waist to hip ratio (-0.01±0.004, p=0.001), waist to stature ratio (-0.02±0.002, p<0.001), body adiposity index (-0.97±0.15%, p<0.001), abdominal volume index (-1.07±0.11, p<0.001) and conicity index (-0.007±0.002, p=0.001) during 8 weeks.
Conclusion: Based on the results, an individualized balanced low calorie diet induced weight loss and decreased other anthropometric measurements during 8 weeks. Balanced low calorie diet-induced moderate weight loss alone can be a good way to reduce metabolic risk factors in obese women. .
 

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Background & objectives: Considering the high prevalence of body image dissatisfaction and its consequences, it is necessary to consider effective interventions to reduce it. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a balanced low calorie diet (BLCD) and slight weight loss on the body image score and its subscales.
Methods: In this clinical trial, 74 apparently healthy, non-pregnant, non-lactating and non-menopausal women (age range: 18-49 years with body mass index range: 27.5-40 kg/m²) were selected using random sampling method from a nutrition clinic in their first visit in Ardabil city between November 2019 and February 2020. Data collection was done by Anthropometric measurements and multidimensional body self-relations questionnaire. The paired T-test was used to compare the changes during 4 - week balanced low calorie diet intervention. BLCD was an individualized diet with an energy deficit of 500 calories of daily energy intake that was calculated from 3-day food records for every person.
Results: After 4 weeks, BLCD resulted in a significant decrease in body weight (p=0.001), body mass index (p=0.001), waist circumference (p=0.002), waist to height ratio (p=0.012), abdominal volume index (p=0.009) and conicity index (p=0.045) and a significant increase in the subscale scores of fitness evaluation (p=0.01), health orientation (p=0.03), body area satisfaction (p=0.01) and overweight preoccupation (p=0.001).
Conclusion: According to the results, it seems that even slight weight loss with a balanced low-calorie diet can be effective in improving anthropometric indices and some subscales of body image in 4 weeks. These results support the effectiveness of short-term interventions.