Weight Change and Its Association with Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Overweight and Obese Women

Abstract

Introduction. The effect of weight loss magnitude on cardiometabolic risk markers has been sparsely studied, particularly among overweight and obese women from low socioeconomic areas. Objectives. To examine the association of weight loss magnitude with changes in cardiometabolic risk markers in overweight and obese women from low socioeconomic areas engaged in a lifestyle intervention. Methods. Analyses were performed on 243 women (mean body mass index 31.27 ± 4.14 kg/m2) who completed a 12-month lifestyle intervention in low socioeconomic communities in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare changes of cardiometabolic risk factors across weight change categories (2% gain, ±2% maintain, >2 to 2% to 2 to <5% obtained through lifestyle intervention may represent a reasonable initial weight loss target for women in the low socioeconomic community as it led to improvements in selected risk markers, particularly of diabetes risk.