Improved insulin sensitivity, central systolic pressure and inflammatory indicators achieved with minor weight reduction in overweight and obese subjects given education on lifestyle modification

Background: Obesity is a global epidemic disease; lifestyle modification is an approach in the prevention and management of obesity.

Objective: We determined the effects of education on modified lifestyle intervention on arterial stiffness, metabolic and inflammatory markers.

Methods: Twenty-five generally healthy overweight and obese subjects completed nine months education on modified lifestyle intervention at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu. Subjects were regularly counselled to increase physical activity and modify their diet during intervention. Arterial stiffness was measured noninvasively using carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse wave analysis (PWA). Anthropometric measurements, body fat percentage and visceral fat, central and brachial blood pressures, lipid profile, the inflammatory marker high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and insulin sensitivity were also recorded.

Results: After nine months, a significant weight loss of 2.2 kg was observed associated with significant reductions in waist and hip circumference, aortic systolic blood pressure, serum fasting insulin, insulin resistance, and hsCRP levels. Insulin sensitivity was increased, while body fat and visceral fat percentages were marginally reduced (p = 0.058 and p = 0.059). No significant differences were seen in arterial stiffness, fasting plasma glucose and lipid profile.

Conclusion: Education on modified lifestyle intervention improved insulin sensitivity and resistance, reduced hsCRP and aortic systolic blood pressure despite the small weight reduction achieved.