Nutrition and Physical Activity for Obesity

For Overweight phase:

Inclusion criteria

• Volunteers: men and women from Comunidad de Madrid (Zone 5 of Health System) who sign the informed consent.
• Ages 18 - 50 years old.
• Pre-menopausal.
• Body mass index (BMI) of 25 - 30 kg•m-2 (both included).
• Able to attend exercise classes 3 times per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). No plans for excessive travel. No plans to move from area for study period (January 2010 - June 2010, both included).
• Able to follow the nutritional treatment (avoid medication or substances known to interfere with body weight regulation, including anti-depressive medication, diuretics, etc., 15 days before study starts).
• Willing to not participate in other formal or informal weight loss program during the period of the study.
• Sedentary (less than once a week of training or two hours of physical activity class).

Exclusion criteria

• Smoking within six months, or use of tobacco or nicotine product.
• Women with irregular menstrual cycle (except with hormone therapy).
• Following a weight loss diet, vegetarians or food restriction due to religion.
• Self-reported weight loss or gain >5% in past 6 months.
• Are not pregnant, or haven´t been in the past six months. Are not currently nursing or planning to become pregnant during the study period (year 2010).
• Need a special diet by associated disease (celiac disease or chronic renal insufficiency).
• Have metabolic syndrome or fulfill three or more of the following criteria: abdominal obesity (waist diameter > 102 cm in men and > 88 cm in women), blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mm Hg, basal glycemia ≥ 110 mg/dL, triglyceride level > 150 mg/dL and C-HDL < 40 mg/dL in women and < 50 mg/dL in men.
• Diabetes.
• Anemia (Hct < 37%).
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure (Systolic > 160 mm Hg or diastolic > 100 mm Hg in rest). Current use of more than one anti-hypertensive medication.
• Substance abuse (drugs, alcohol…). High or moderate consumes of alcohol. More than 2 glasses to the day of any alcoholic substance. Current use of diuretics, beta blockers, steroids or blood thinners.
• Contraindication to exercise. Alterations, syndromes or diseases detected by electrocardiogram (EKG) o echocardiography. Have injuries o pathologies of the locomotive apparatus that prevent the correct execution of the exercises of the program. Any illness that would prevent participation in a moderate-intense exercise program.
• Have had cancer in the past 5 years, except skin cancer.
• Coronary artery disease, liver disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease or other systemic disorders.
• History or evidence of cardiovascular disease, alterations, syndromes or other mayor chronic illness. Have history of heart disease, heart attacks or heart surgery.
• Have any illness known to interfere with body weight loss: clinical depression, eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, etc.), psychological diseases (schizophrenia, etc.), dementia or cognitive function decreased, hypothyroidism no controlled or history of genetic or chromosomal disorder.
• Have had bariatric surgery or stomach bypass surgery.
• Gross physical impairment.
• Blindness or retinopathy.

For Obese phase:

Inclusion criteria

• Volunteers: men and women from Comunidad de Madrid (Zone 5 of Health System) who sign the informed consent.
• Ages 18 - 50 years old.
• Pre-menopausal.
• Body mass index (BMI) of 30 - 35 kg•m-2 (both included).
• Able to attend exercise classes 3 times per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday). No plans for excessive travel. No plans to move from area for study period (January 2011 - June 2011, both included).
• Able to follow the nutritional treatment (avoid medication or substances known to interfere with body weight regulation, including anti-depressive medication, diuretics, etc., 15 days before study starts).
• Willing to not participate in other formal or informal weight loss program during the period of the study.
• Sedentary (less than once a week of training or two hours of physical activity class).

Exclusion criteria

• Smoking within six months, or use of tobacco or nicotine product.
• Women with irregular menstrual cycle (except with hormone therapy).
• Following a weight loss diet, vegetarians or food restriction due to religion.
• Self-reported weight loss or gain >5% in past 6 months.
• Are not pregnant, or haven´t been in the past six months. Are not currently nursing or planning to become pregnant during the study period (year 2011).
• Need a special diet by associated disease (celiac disease or chronic renal insufficiency).
• Have metabolic syndrome or fulfill three or more of the following criteria: abdominal obesity (waist diameter > 102 cm in men and > 88 cm in women), blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mm Hg, basal glycemia ≥ 110 mg/dL, triglyceride level > 150 mg/dL and C-HDL < 40 mg/dL in women and < 50 mg/dL in men.
• Diabetes.
• Anemia (Hct < 37%).
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure (Systolic > 160 mm Hg or diastolic > 100 mm Hg in rest). Current use of more than one anti-hypertensive medication.
• Substance abuse (drugs, alcohol…). High or moderate consumes of alcohol. More than 2 glasses to the day of any alcoholic substance. Current use of diuretics, beta blockers, steroids or blood thinners.
• Contraindication to exercise. Alterations, syndromes or diseases detected by electrocardiogram (EKG) o echocardiography. Have injuries o pathologies of the locomotive apparatus that prevent the correct execution of the exercises of the program. Any illness that would prevent participation in a moderate-intense exercise program.
• Have had cancer in the past 5 years, except skin cancer.
• Coronary artery disease, liver disease, pulmonary disease, renal disease or other systemic disorders.
• History or evidence of cardiovascular disease, alterations, syndromes or other mayor chronic illness. Have history of heart disease, heart attacks or heart surgery.
• Have any illness known to interfere with body weight loss: clinical depression, eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, etc.), psychological diseases (schizophrenia, etc.), dementia or cognitive function decreased, hypothyroidism no controlled or history of genetic or chromosomal disorder.
• Have had bariatric surgery or stomach bypass surgery.
• Gross physical impairment.
• Blindness or retinopathy.