Open AccessInsulin Sensitivity Determines the Effectiveness of Dietary Macronutrient Composition on Weight Loss in Obese Women
Author(s) -
Cornier MarcAndre,
Donahoo W. Troy,
Pereira Rocio,
Gurevich Inga,
Westergren Rickard,
Enerback Sven,
Eckel Peter J.,
Goalstone Marc L.,
Hill James O.,
Eckel Robert H.,
Draznin Boris
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
obesity research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1550-8528
pISSN - 1071-7323
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2005.79
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , weight loss , insulin , obesity , insulin resistance , insulin sensitivity , composition (language) , carbohydrate , linguistics , philosophy
Objective : To determine whether macronutrient composition of a hypocaloric diet can enhance its effectiveness and whether insulin sensitivity (Si) affects the response to hypocaloric diets. Research Methods and Procedures : Obese nondiabetic insulin‐sensitive (fasting insulin < 10 μU/mL; n = 12) and obese nondiabetic insulin‐resistant (fasting insulin > 15 μU/mL; n = 9) women (23 to 53 years old) were randomized to either a high carbohydrate (CHO) (HC)/low fat (LF) (60% CHO, 20% fat) or low CHO (LC)/high fat (HF) (40% CHO, 40% fat) hypocaloric diet. Primary outcome measures after a 16‐week dietary intervention were: changes in body weight (BW), Si, resting metabolic rate, and fasting lipids. Results : Insulin‐sensitive women on the HC/LF diet lost 13.5 ± 1.2% ( p < 0.001) of their initial BW, whereas those on the LC/HF diet lost 6.8 ± 1.2% ( p < 0.001; p < 0.002 between the groups). In contrast, among the insulin‐resistant women, those on the LC/HF diet lost 13.4 ± 1.3% ( p < 0.001) of their initial BW as compared with 8.5 ± 1.4% ( p < 0.001) lost by those on the HC/LF diet ( p < 0.04 between two groups). These differences could not be explained by changes in resting metabolic rate, activity, or intake. Overall, changes in Si were associated with the degree of weight loss ( r = −0.57, p < 0.05). Discussion : The state of Si determines the effectiveness of macronutrient composition of hypocaloric diets in obese women. For maximal benefit, the macronutrient composition of a hypocaloric diet may need to be adjusted to correspond to the state of Si.