title: Survey of cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese patients (SCOOP study) six-month changes in risk factor levels and cardiovascular risk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity is considered a major threat to health worldwide, and its treatment is difficult. The SCOOP project is aimed at describing the effects of treating obesity in everyday clinical practice, following a standard protocol of weight reduction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2472 obese or overweight men and women (with a body mass index of 27 units or more), aged between 35 and 74, were enrolled in different clinical facilities. Treatment included a 25% average reduction in caloric intake and a recommendation to take a brisk walk for at least 150 min per week. After 6 months, a second survey was then carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the entry examination, patients exhibited high levels of most cardiovascular risk factors and estimated cardiovascular risks, and a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (14.1% in men; 6.3% in women), diabetes (30.5% in men; 25.2% in women) and metabolic syndrome (25.6% in men; 22.8% in women). After 6 months, 69% of all enrolled patients reported for a final examination. Levels of all cardiovascular risk factors were significantly reduced, including estimated cardiovascular risks (-20.4% in men and -12.6% in women). A targeted 10% reduction in body weight was achieved by 19% of patients. Changes in weight and cardiovascular risk factors were highly correlated with the self-reported compliance to prescriptions, and graded with the observed weight reduction. Benefits should be lowered by 30% if it is assumed that the patients who did not show up at the follow-up did not change their characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short term positive effects of treatment of obesity can be obtained in everyday clinical practice using a simple protocol.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, Azienda Ospedaliera ASMN, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ido
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iori
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fatati
authors.forename: Maria Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matthieu
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scanelli
authors.forename: Mariapaola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanti
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016138:Walking