WEIGHT LOSS AND IMPROVEMENT OF BODY COMPOSITION IN A GROUP OF WOMEN USING FOOD SUPPLEMENTS ALONG WITH HYPOCALORIC DIET

Obesity and overweight are increasing health problems characterised as a higher than normal body weight due to an abnormal increase in body fat. Body weight adequacy is categorized by using body mass index (BMI) nevertheless it doesn't give information about body composition. Also fat mass (FM), waist circumference (Wci), hip circumference (Hci) and waist to hip ratio or waist to height ratio, are relevant. Ideally, these parameters should be calculated initially to evaluate changes during every dietary intervention with a weight loss goal. Many patients use food supplements when they are willing to slim. The aim of this study was to assess the improvement of weight and body composition parameters through the use of food supplements intended to help weight control along with hypocaloric diet. Seventy- eight women who wanted to lose weight were recruited in the program and splitted into intervention or control group (food supplement plus diet or diet alone) and were monitored for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measures (weight, height, body mass index, fat mass, waist and hip circumference) were taken. The mean age was of 36.27±7.59 and most of them were within overweight or obesity values for BMI, FM, Wci and Hci. After 8 weeks, both groups got positive results, especially with different ranges of improvement in body composition. As expected, improvements were better within the intervention group than within the controls. Some food supplements may be an aid to manage weight control and professional individualised assessment about their right use and diet is critical to succeed.