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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: Due to the prevalence of obesity and the subsequent development of metabolic risk factors, cardiovascular and fatty liver complications, exercise programs and the use of natural supplements can play a significant role in controlling and preventing these diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to review the effect of eight weeks of combined exercise and Chlorogenic acid intake on C-reactive protein and liver enzymes in obese women.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, which was performed as a pre-test, post-test with a control group, a total of 48 obese women were selected purposefully and divided randomly into four equal groups (n=12); exercise, supplement, exercise+supplementation and control group. The exercises program consisted of 8 weeks of aerobic and resistance training, 3 sessions with 60 minutes per week. The chlorogenic acid supplement group received daily Green coffee in capsule form contain 400 mg powder for 8 weeks and the concurrent group performed exercise and received Green coffee simultaneously. By using blood sampling the variables were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. Data were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA at significance level of p<0.05.
Results: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the supplement group were the lowest and in the exercise+supplementation group had the highest decrease and there was no significant difference in the control group. The C-reactive protein (CRP) in the training+supplementation group was significantly decreased and in the three experimental groups there was a significant difference compared to the control group (p≥0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that combined exercise and natural substances rich in chlorogenic acid can decrease inflammatory factors such as C-reactive protein and liver enzymes.
 

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Background & objectives: Leptin and galanin are hormones involved in appetite and energy balance that play an important role in metabolism regulation and energy balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 12 weeks of intense intermittent exercise (HIIT) and curcumin consumption effect on leptin and galanin levels on inactive obese women.
Methods: 30 obese women were randomly selected from 85 women referring to sports clubs in  the Urmia city with an age range of 30-35 years in the form of a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test and were divided into two groups of 15 Individual HIIT-Placebo and HIIT-Curcumin. The preparation period lasted for three weeks and HIIT training for nine weeks (4 sessions per week). Blood samples were taken in two stages before and 48 hours after the last training session in the follicular phase. Serum leptin and galanin were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test and analysis of covariance. Significance level was considered 0.05 and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20.
Results: The results of statistical analysis showed that 12 weeks of HIIT training reduced leptin (p<0.05), galanin (p<0.05), body mass index (p<0.05), and weight (p<0.05) was significantly higher in the HIIT-Curcumin group than in the HIIT-Placebo group.
Conclusion: The results showed that HIIT training combined with curcumin consumption as a non- invasive method can have a positive effect on reducing leptin and galanin levels and obesity-related factors.