title: Modest weight loss through a 12-week weight management program with behavioral modification seems to attenuate inflammatory responses in young obese Koreans.
abstract: Obesity has been reported to impair immune functions and lead to low-grade long-term inflammation; however, studies that have investigated the impact of weight loss on these among the young and slightly obese are limited. Thus, we investigated the effect of a 12-week weight management program with behavioral modifications on cell-mediated immune functions and inflammatory responses in young obese participants. Our hypothesis was that weight loss would result in improved immune functions and decreased inflammatory responses. Sixty-four participants (45 obese and 19 normal weight) finished the program. Obese (body mass index ≥25) participants took part in 5 group education and 6 individual counseling sessions. Normal-weight (body mass index 18.5-23) participants only attended 6 individual sessions. The goal for the obese was to lose 0.5 kg/wk by reducing their intake by 300 to 500 kcal/d and increasing their physical activity. Program participation resulted in a modest but significant decrease in weight (2.7 ± 0.4 kg, P < .001) and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated interleukin-1β production (from 0.85 ± 0.07 to 0.67 ± 0.07 ng/mL, P < .05) in the obese. In the obese group, increase in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated interleukin-10 production, a TH2 and anti-inflammatory cytokine, approached significance after program participation (from 6181 ± 475 to 6970 ± 632 pg/mL, P = .06). No significant changes in proliferative responses to the optimal concentration of concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin were observed in the obese after program participation. Collectively, modest weight loss did not change the cell-mediated immune functions significantly but did attenuate the inflammatory response in young and otherwise healthy obese adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: AeJin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Kyeong
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; Research Institute of Human Ecology, College of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: snhan@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sung Nim
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D016207:Cytokines
keywords: Cell-mediated immune response; Inflammatory response; Obesity; Weight loss