title: [Efficacy and safety of a very-low-calorie diet in a group of overweight or obese Chilean women].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very low calorie diets (VLCDs) have been used to induce a rapid decrease in total body weight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a VLCD in a group of overweight and obese Chilean women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty women with a body mass index (BMI) > 27 kg/m2 were enrolled to a 4 weeks intervention with a VLCD (using liquid meal replacement). Anthropometric and metabolic parameters were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty five women (83%) completed the total intervention period. Average weight loss was 5.7 ± 1.5 kg (-6.9% of the initial weight) corresponding to a 34.7 ± 13.4% of the excess of weight. Significant improvements in triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (Low Density Lipoproteins) were observed. Insulin resistance determined by Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), decreased significantly from 3.3 ± 1.8 to 2.0 ± 0.9 (p = 0.003). No serious adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short term use of VLCDs is safe and effective to induce rapid weight loss in Chilean women.
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Nutrición Clínica, Clínica Las Condes, Santiago, Chile. acuevas@clc.cl
authors.forename: Ada
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuevas
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olivos
authors.forename: Daniella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ghiardo
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alvarez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002677:Chile; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids