Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (Jun 2017)

Effects of a tailored lifestyle self-management intervention (TALENT) study on weight reduction: a randomized controlled trial

  • Melchart D,
  • Löw P,
  • Wühr E,
  • Kehl V,
  • Weidenhammer W

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 10
pp. 235 – 245

Abstract

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Dieter Melchart,1,2 Peter Löw,3 Erich Wühr,4 Victoria Kehl,5 Wolfgang Weidenhammer1 1Competence Center for Complementary Medicine and Naturopathy, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; 2Institute for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 3Medical Practice for Internal Medicine, Treuchtlingen, 4Faculty for Applied Health Care Science, Deggendorf Institute of Technology, Deggendorf, 5Institute for Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Munich Trial Centre, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany Objective: Overweight and obesity are globally increasing risk factors for diseases in the context of metabolic syndrome. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate whether there are any existing differences between two lifestyle intervention strategies with respect to weight reduction after 1 year.Subjects and methods: A total of 166 subjects with a body mass index of 28–35 kg/m2 were enrolled in this trial at seven study centers; 109 were randomly allocated to the intervention group (comprehensive lifestyle modification program: web-based Individual Health Management [IHM]) with 3-month reduction phase plus 9-month maintenance phase, and 57 were allocated to the control group (written information with advice for healthy food habits: usual care [UC]). Body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, laboratory findings, and bioimpedance analysis used to determine body composition were measured at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The primary outcome parameter was body weight at month 12 compared to baseline.Results: With respect to baseline status there were no statistically significant differences between the groups. Based on the intent-to-treat population, body weight showed a mean decrease of 8.7 kg (SD 6.1) in the intervention group (IHM) and 4.2 kg (SD 5) in the control group (UC) at month 12. This statistically significant difference (P<0.001) was confirmed by various sensitivity analyses. Body mass index, waist circumference, high-density lipid cholesterol, body fat, and the ratio of fat and body cell mass improved to a significantly higher degree in the IHM group.Conclusion: IHM proved to be superior to UC in weight reduction after 1 year. With a mean loss of about 10% of the baseline weight, a clinically high relevant risk reduction for cardiometabolic diseases is achievable. Keywords: Individual Health Management, IHM, overweight, obesity, prevention, lifestyle modification

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