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How effective is weight loss in reducing cardiometabolic risk? An observational analysis of two randomised controlled trials of community weight loss programmes

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Morris, E 
Jebb, SA 
Oke, J 
Nickless, A 

Abstract

Background: Guidelines recommend clinicians identify individuals at high cardiometabolic risk and support weight loss in those with overweight or obesity. However, individual level data quantifying the benefits of weight change for individuals, to guide these discussions in primary care, is lacking. Aim: Examine how weight change affects cardiometabolic risk factors, to facilitate shared decision-making between patients and clinicians regarding weight loss. Design and setting: Observational analysis using data from two trials of referral of individuals with overweight or obesity in primary care to community weight loss groups. Method: Linear mixed effects regression modelling, examining the association between weight change and change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profile across multiple timepoints (baseline to 24 months). Subgroup analyses examined changes in individuals with hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia. Results: 2041 participants had a mean(±SD) age of 50 ±13.5 years, baseline weight 90.6 ±14.8kg and Body Mass Index 32.7 ±4.1kg/m2. Mean(±SD) weight change was -4.3 ±6.0kg. All outcome measures showed statistically significant improvements. Each 1kg weight loss was associated with 0.4mmHg reduction in SBP and 0.3mmHg reduction in DBP, or 0.5mmHg and 0.4mmHg/kg respectively in people with hypertension. Each 1kg weight loss was associated with 0.2mol/mol reduction in HbA1c, or 0.6mmol/mol in people with diabetes. Effects on plasma lipids were negligible. Conclusion: Weight loss achieved through referral to community weight loss programmes, which are commonly accessible in primary care, can lead to clinically relevant reductions in blood pressure and glucose regulation, especially in those at highest risk.

Description

Keywords

cardiometabolic risk, diabetes, hypertension, lifestyle, obesity, overweight, primary care, weight loss, Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, Humans, Hypertension, Middle Aged, Obesity, Weight Loss, Weight Reduction Programs

Journal Title

British Journal of General Practice

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0960-1643
1478-5242

Volume Title

Publisher

Royal College of General Practitioners
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/4)
MRC (unknown)
EM was funded by an NIHR In‐Practice Fellowship and is currently funded by a Wellcome Trust Doctoral Research Fellowship. PA and SAJ are National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigators and funded by NIHR Oxford Applied Research Centre. PA, SAJ, and JO are supported in part by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). ALA is supported by the Medical Research Council (grant MC_UU_12015/4). The WRAP trial was funded by the National Prevention Research Initiative through research grant MR/J000493/1. The cost of the Weight Watchers programme and the costs of blood sampling and analysis were funded by Weight Watchers International as part of an MRC Industrial Collaboration Award.