Impact of compliance on weight loss and health profile in a very low energy diet program.
BACKGROUND
Although intuitive, little data links program compliance with weight loss and health profile changes in obese Australians.


METHODS
Obese males (n=308) and females (n=734) from one clinic using a very low energy diet intervention were studied over 26 weeks. Physical and health profiles were assessed. Low compliance completed 1-12 weeks, medium 13-20 weeks and high 21-26 weeks.


OBJECTIVE
Overall, 52% achieved high compliance (females: 53%, males: 49%). Greater compliance was associated with greater weight loss and health profile changes in both genders. Mean male weight loss approximated 12 kg, 21 kg and 26 kg with low, medium and high compliance; mean female values were 8 kg, 15 kg and 20 kg. Body mass index, waist-hip ratios, and blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose changes were all more marked with high compliance.


CONCLUSIONS
Unsuprisingly, high compliance in both genders was consistently associated with more substantial reductions (>15%) of body weight and greater health profile improvements.
Wright
Graeme
G
Lifechoice Clinic, Perth, Western Australia. gwright@optimumhms.com.au
Dawson
Brian
B
Jalleh
Geoffrey
G
Law
Saskia
S
D000328:Adult; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015431:Weight Loss; D014904:Western Australia