Bioimpedance Analysis for Follow-up of Dieters

This prospective study was conducted during the period from December 2011 through June 2013 in the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Başkent University.

We enrolled 185 participants who were admitted to hospital for weight loss therapy. After initial evaluation, all participants were prescribed an appropriate diet with caloric restriction and an exercise program and underwent a follow-up examination 3±1 months later. At the end of the follow up, 103 participants attended to the research. Anthropometric, bioimpedance and laboratory measurements performed at baseline and second visit. We calculated the difference in anthropometric, bioimpedance and laboratory measurements between the first and second evaluations. Correlation analysis, multivariate linear regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis performed to assess associations of laboratory metabolic variables with a decrease in anthropometric and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) measures, after diet and/or exercise therapy. The secondary aim was to determine whether abdominal BIA was better than simple anthropometric measurements and conventional BIA for assessing changes in metabolic variables.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants aged 18 to 70 years without chronic disease, cancer, a pacemaker, cardiac valve replacement, malabsorption syndrome, previous history of gastrointestinal surgery, thyroid disease, pregnancy, or a history of surgery during the previous 3 months.

Exclusion criteria

• Participants receiving oral antidiabetic drugs, insulin, any treatment for obesity, steroids or hormonal drugs, over-the-counter drugs for weight loss, any kind of phytodrug, or any drug that could affect glucose metabolism. We also excluded patients who used any of these drugs after the initial evaluation.
• Participants who, at the second visit, reported that they failed to adhere to the diet.