Therapeutic effectiveness of moderate energy restriction in obese Tunisian women

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of moderate energy restriction for 6 months with reinforcement of household activities, in Tunisian obese women. Design: We conducted a nutritional intervention for 6 months. Participants: We included consecutively 75 volunteer obese women in the “Obesity Unit”, Endocrinology Service, La Rabta Hospital, Tunisia; in January 2013. Intervention(s): We prescribed a diet of 1600 Kcal/day; providing 57% of energy as carbohydrate, 30% as fat, and 13% as protein. We advised the reinforcement of the domestic housework activities. Main outcome measure(s): Demographics, lifestyle behaviors, anthropometrics, biologic parameters and dietary intake were assessed at baseline and at 6 months. Analysis: All quantitative variables were reported as the mean ± standard deviation. We used paired-samples t test for comparison of two means and Pearson correlation coefficient (n > 30) to check for correlations. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Sixty (80%) women were reviewed at 6 months. There was a significant decrease in body mass index and fat mass and a significant increase of the percentage of lean mass. The total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein and leptin levels were reduced at 6 months. Conclusion and implication: The prevention of the cardiovascular complications of the obesity for women of a modest socioeconomic level is achievable through readily accessible means.