Search

The present study is a consensus document of two Spanish scientific associations, FESNAD (Spanish Federation of Societies of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics Associations) and SEEDO (Spanish Association for the Study of Obesity), about the role of the diet in the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. In this part of the document the methodology and the classification of levels of evidence are described. In order to reach the strongest evidence possible, a systematic review of 543 medical studies dealing with these issues published in the last 15 years (from January 1st 1996 to January 31st 2011) has been conducted. In the executive summary, along with the obtained evidences, a set of degree-classified recommendations are established. These recommendations could constitute a useful tool to design food guides addressed to the nutritional counseling for obesity and overweight treatment.

This study is a consensus document of two Spanish scientific associations, FESNAD (Spanish Federation of Nutrition, Food and Dietetetic Associations) and SEEDO (Spanish Association for the Study of Obesity), about the role of the diet in the prevention and of overweight and obesity in adults. It is the result of a careful and systematic review of the data published in the medical literature from January 1st 1996 to January 31st 2011 concerning the role of the diet on obesity prevention. The conclusions obtained have been classified according several evidence levels. Subsequently, in agreement with these evidence levels, different degree recommendations are established. These recommendations could be potentially useful to design food guides as part of strategies to prevent overweight and obesity.

This study is a consensus document of two Spanish scientific associations, FESNAD (Spanish Federation of Nutrition, Food and Dietetic Associations) and SEEDO (Spanish Association for the Study of Obesity), about the role of the diet in the treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. It is the result of a careful and systematic review of the data published in the medical literature from January 1st 1996 to January 31st 2011 concerning the role of the diet on obesity treatment. The achieved conclusions have been classified into various evidence levels. Subsequently in agreement with these evidence levels, different degree recommendations are established being potentially useful to design food guides as part of strategies addressed to the treatment overweight and obesity.

Background: Morbid obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In these patients, weight reduction reduces associated morbidity and increases life expectancy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anthropometric changes in a group of patients treated with a very low caloric diet and to assess nitrogen balance and clinical and biological tolerance., Methods: Overall 65 patients were prospectively evaluated (12 males and 53 females with a mean age of 45 +/- 7 years. Mean initial weight was 110 +/- 21 kg, with a Quetelet index of 43 +/- 7 kg/m2. They were treated as inpatients during 42 days exclusively with a very low caloric diet. They also followed a physical exercise program during one hour daily., Results: The weight reduction was 15 +/- 4 kg (p less than 0.0001) with a reduction in fat mass of 9 +/- 2 kg (p less than 0.0001) and a reduction in fat-free mass of 6 +/- 3 kg (p less than 0.0001). The Quetelet index was reduced in 5 +/- 1 points (p less than 0.0001). There was also a reduction in the muscle adipose index from 1 +/- 0.2 to 0.7 +/- 0.2. The nitrogen balance remained negative throughout the 42 study days, although with a clear trend towards equilibrium. There were significant reductions in blood glucose, proteinemia, total cholesterol and subfractions. Triglycerides did not show significant changes. Clinical tolerance was excellent in all cases except 4 who withdraw from treatment because of nausea and vomiting., Conclusions: In this study, very low caloric diet achieved satisfactory weight reduction, basically at the expense of adipose tissue, reflected in a reduction of the muscle adipose index. Nitrogen balance remained negative throughout the treatment but with a trend towards normalization. Tolerance was excellent in 61 of the 65 cases (94%).