| dc.description.abstract | Background and aims: Obesity is a growing health concern worldwide. Few studies have examined the effects of weight loss on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in obese elderly. We, therefore, examined the effects of weight loss on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness, and abdominal fat distribution in obese geriatric women. Methods: Thirteen obese women aged 66-83 years (mean age 71.2 +/- 4.9 yrs) with a body mass index of 35.6-49 kg/m(2) (mean body mass index 39.9 +/- 4.3 kg/m(2)) were evaluated. Only subjects with uncomplicated obesity were included. Anthropometric parameters, lipid levels, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity homocysteine levels, blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness and abdominal fat distribution were made before and after a 6-month Orlistat plus hypocaloric diet. Results: Subjects lost an average of 8.4 +/- 1.2 kg (9.4%). Total cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance decreased significantly, whereas other parameters including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and homocystein did not change after weight loss. In addition, substantial reductions of 24-hour ambulatory systolic and nighttime systolic blood pressures were observed at the end of the study, but not the diastolic blood pressure associated with weight loss. Both carotid intima-media thickness and abdominal fat thicknesses such as intra-abdominal fat and subcutaneous fat decreased significantly after weight loss. Conclusions: Moderate weight loss over 6 months in uncomplicated obese older women produced substantial improvements in the cholesterol levels, hemoglobin A1c, insulin resistance and other cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, carotid intima-media thickness and abdominal fat distribution. Obesity and Metabolism 2010; 6: 50-56. | en_US |
