Relationship of weight loss to cardiovascular risk factors in morbidly obese individuals.

Objective: This study critically examined the relationships between weight loss and changes in serum lipid and blood pressure levels.

Method: Eighty morbidly obese women and men were treated with an intensive very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) and behavioral education program. Body weight and blood pressure were measured weekly. Serum lipids were measured biweekly.

Results: Patients lost an average of 35.3 kg in 25.6 weeks. These values decreased significantly: fasting serum cholesterol, 15.1%; low density lipoprotein cholesterol, 17.0%; triglycerides, 14.2%; systolic blood pressure, 8.7%; and diastolic blood pressure, 10.2%. Changes in serum lipids and blood pressure were significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with baseline values and with changes in body mass index (BMI) after adjustment for baseline values. Patients maintained an average of 19.7 kg of their weight loss at the 2-year follow-up.

Conclusion: Weight reduction through a multidisciplinary VLCD program significantly reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease; for morbidly obese individuals, improvements in risk factors were significantly and linearly related to changes in the BMI.