title: Enhancing treatment of obesity by using a distracting mini-meal: a new approach to an old problem.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The management of obesity, apart from exercise, mainly involves a calorie restriction regimen. A pharmaceutical treatment is often used to improve patient compliance and diet effectiveness, although several side-effects have previously been described. To improve patient compliance and diet effectiveness without incurring unpleasant side-effects, we evaluated whether a distracting mini-meal can physiologically decrease the absorption of fats and carbohydrates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two minutes before each of the three meals consumed daily, 32 obese patients were treated with a distracting mini-meal, 32 with metformin, and 32 with placebo. At baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months of treatment, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting/post-prandial insulinaemia and glycaemia, homeostasis model assessment-index, triacylglycerols, and total cholesterol were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients showed good compliance. With the exception of post-prandial glycaemia, a significant reduction in all parameters was documented in every group, albeit the greater variation was observed in patients treated with a distracting mini-meal or metformin. No one showed noteworthy side-effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study focuses on a distracting mini-meal that could become a useful tool in enhancing weight loss. The beneficial effect of a distracting meal on insulin resistance, glucose, and lipid metabolism suggest its possible use to prevent or mitigate obesity-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy. antonio.picarelli@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picarelli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Tola
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabacco
authors.forename: Mariacatia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borghini
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: D'Amico
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lubrano
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gargiulo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000097:blood; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D019518:Postprandial Period; D012384:Rome; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D008687:Metformin