LIPID AND LIPOPROTEIN CHANGES AFTER LONG-TERM WEIGHT-REDUCTION - THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION

Objectives: This study was designed: 1) to evaluate the effect of weight loss on body fat distribution, 2) to determine whether indices of body fat distribution can be considered as a prognostic indicator for the ability to lose weight and 3) to evaluate whether a change of body fat distribution is associated with changes in plasma glucose, lipids and lipoproteins in both sexes in order to evaluate a gender difference. Methods: 63 obese subjects (41 women and 22 men) were treated on an outpatient basis with an energy-reduced, protein-enriched low calorie diet (3150-4200 kJ/day) for a B-month period. They were divided in different groups according to gender and body fat distribution using the waist-to-hip circumference ratio. Results: Body fat topography can be altered by dieting, but not by more than it increases when a person gains weight. Body fat distribution seems to be a significant prognostic indicator for the ability to lose weight in women but not in men, Although body weight and the waist-to-hip circumference decreased significantly, no relationships were found between percent decrease in these parameters and percent changes in plasma glucose, lipids and lipoproteins. Conclusion: We conclude that an important caloric deficit may lead to a series of metabolic improvements but that gender and the type of fat distribution are important confounding factors in the prediction of metabolic success.