Workshop 7 O38–O43

INTRODUCTION: National UK weight management guidelines advocate a 12-week weight loss period using a 600-kcal (2510 KJ) individualised energy de®cit (ED) below estimated energy expenditure, followed by a 12 week weight maintenance programme. We present the ®rst formal evaluation of this approach. AIM: To compare 600-kcal ED approach with a 1500 kcal=6276 KJ per day generalised low calorie diet (GLC). Both approaches aimed towards an intake of 35% energy from fat and >50% energy from carbohydrate. METHODS: A randomised-controlled study at a large work site, a new setting for weight management, and participants recruited (122 men) using electronic mail. To provide a control group, 25% of participants were randomised to an initial 12-week observation period. Dietary advice was delivered using a one-to-one counselling approach. Each participant was seen on six occasions over the 12-week weight loss period. Anthropometric measurements and plasma lipids (total, LDL, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides) were taken at baseline and 12 weeks. RESULTS: The work-site proved a practical and ef®cient setting to carry out a weight loss study. Twenty-nine participants have withdrawn. Seventy-eight participants mean BMI 30.9 (SD) 3.6 kg=m, blood pressure and plasma lipids within reference ranges, have completed the 12-week weight loss period. Mean weight loss for all subjects was 5.0 3.2 kg (5%). No signi®cant difference in weight loss was observed according to treatment group, 4.7 3.3 (ED) vs 5.4 3.1 kg (GLC). Total cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced signi®cantly in all subjects 70.33 0.57 mmol=l (pˆ 0.0001) and 70.21 0.78 mmol (pˆ0.03) respectively with LDL and HDL remaining unchanged. No differences were seen according to treatment group. In all cases systolic blood pressure was signi®cantly reduced (pˆ 0.0001) with diastolic blood pressure remaining unchanged. A difference was seen between treatment groups, with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure signi®cantly reduced only in the GLC group. CONCLUSION: Moderate weight loss of 5% was suf®cient to improve coronary risk. These data suggest that a ED approach is no more effective than GLC in achieving weight loss over a 12-week period, in this group and setting. Observation over a longer period will be necessary to evaluate weight change and lipid changes (re ̄ecting dietary composition) on completion of a maintenance phase.