Effect of a 1-Year Controlled Lifestyle Intervention on Body Weight and Other Risk Markers (the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme, Cohort 2)

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity is high and increasing worldwide. Obesity is generally associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and mortality. The objective of the study was to test the effect of a lifestyle intervention on body weight and other chronic disease risk markers. Methods: A non-randomized controlled trial was conducted, including mostly middle-aged and elderly participants recruited from the general population in rural northwest Germany (intervention: n = 114; control: n = 87). The intervention consisted of a 1-year lifestyle programme focusing on four key areas: a largely plant-based diet (strongest emphasis), physical activity, stress management, and community support. Parameters were assessed at baseline, 10 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. The control group received no intervention. Results: Compared to control, in the intervention group significantly lower 1-year trajectories were observed for body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, total cholesterol, calculated LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, remnant cholesterol (REM-C), glucose, HbA1c, and resting heart rate (RHR). However, between-group differences at 1 year were small for glucose, HbA1c, and cholesterol (apart from REM-C). No significant between-group differences were found for 1-year trajectories of measured LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, blood pressure, and pulse pressure. Conclusion: The intervention successfully reduced body weight, BMI, waist circumference, REM-C, and RHR. However, at 1 year, effectiveness of the intervention regarding other risk markers was either very modest or could not be shown.

Healthy lifestyle changes favourably affect common carotid intima-media thickness: the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (cohort 2)

“…The present study had the aim of examining the effect of a community-based lifestyle intervention on changes in mean and max ccIMT (among other CVD markers (16) ). While the intervention resulted in significant dietary improvements, in line with the recommendations given, physical activity did not significantly increase over the course of 1 year.…”

“…Dietary intake was assessed with semi-quantitative 3-d food protocols. Adherence to dietary recommendations was assessed with the plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful PDI (hPDI) and unhealthful PDI (uPDI) (18) (as described previously (16) ). As the association of the intakes of potatoes, fish, eggs and dairy with ccIMT are less certain, whereas hPDI includes these food groups as negatives, we also conducted a post hoc analysis with a modified hPDI (excluding the food groups potatoes, fish, eggs and dairy).…”

“…The primary outcome parameter of the study was body weight (16) , for which a sample size calculation was conducted, and a further sample size calculation was conducted for the secondary parameter ccIMT (as described previously (17) ).…”

“…Thus, the objective of the present study was to test if a healthy lifestyle intervention would beneficially affect ccIMT within 1 year (among other CVD risk markers (16) ).…”

The value of dietary plant protein in older people

“…Numerous studies demonstrated that increased consumption of vegetable foods in older people can reduce inflammation [28 ▪▪ ,29], and improve kidney function [30], cardiometabolic and cardiovascular health [31–33]. A systematic review also highlighted that dietary patterns in older adults involving higher consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, unsaturated vegetable oils, fish and lean meat or poultry were associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality [3].…”