Changes of body composition during weight reduction program in obese women

Abstract

Introduction: Weight loss with preferential effect on the body fat, especially visceral fat, could have important clinical benefits. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8-week personalized Chrono Nutrition weight management program on body weight and body composition in obese women. Method / Design: 157 obese women (aged 44,1 ± 12,7 years, BMI= 35,5 ± 5,3 kg/m2, % body fat= 43,4 ± 4,9 %) participated in the investigation. Participants were advised to have meals that contained on certain well tolerated foods at a proper day time. Anthropometric measurements and body composition by using a bioimpedance analyzer Inbody 720 were assessed at the baseline, and after 4 and 8 weeks. Friedman test was used to compare anthropometric measurements during follow up, and post hoc comparisons with a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was conducted with the applied Bonferroni correction method. Results: Participants lost significant weight during the intervention (-5.1 kg at week 4 (p<0.001) and -3.5 kg at week 8 (p<0.001)). The mean visceral fat area, mean total fat mass, and mean percent body fat showed a trend of reduction during the whole period of the study and the difference between each measurement remained statistically significant (p<0,001). The mean skeletal muscle mass was reduced by around 0,7 kg at the 4 weeks of program; the difference was statistically significant (p <0,001). Afterwards, towards week 8 of the program, the mean value of the skeletal muscle mass showed no trend of further reduction. Conclusions: Chrono nutrition could be an effective and appropriate weight management program.