Predictors of weight loss in the clinical management of obese patients: the relevance of body composition
ILARIA DICEMBRINI, LAURA PALA, BARBARA CRESCI, FRANCESCO CREMASCO, AND CARLO MARIA ROTELLA
Obesity Agency, Section of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

Background and aims: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) represents a simple, relatively inexpensive, highly reproducible and non invasive assessing body composition technique. Aim of the present study is to verify the clinical utility of BIA in predicting future weight loss and in evaluating FatMass (FM) (using DXA as a comparative method) in overweight and obese subjects. Methods: 198 patients, overweight or obese (BMI≥25 kg/m2) referring to the Outpatient Clinic of the Obesity Agency, University of Florence, were enrolled. All patients enrolled underwent an individual cognitive-behavioural program encouraging their lifestyle modification. At baseline, 3 and 6 months all subjects were also assessed with BIA using the same equipment and the same skilled operator. Results: The 198 patients were all obese (BMI 37.9±6.1 kg/m2). At 6 months, average weight loss is of 4.6±4.9 kg (-5.3±6.5% of initial weight). The percentage of patients reaching the target of 5% or more of weight loss (responder) at 6 months is 44% (n=88). At 6 months, average weight change for the successful group was -10.2±4.9% (-4.0±3.2 kg/m2 of initial BMI). When the BIA results were analyzed according to weight loss percentage, baseline Muscle Mass (MM) and Free Fat Mass (FFM) percentage showed significantly higher values in successful patients in comparison with nonresponder participants (p<0.05), and baseline percentage FM reveals significantly lower values (p=0.005). Conclusion: Present data demonstrate for the first time that weight reduction could be predicted by a simple, relatively inexpensive, highly reproducible and non invasive assessing body composition technique as BIA. Obesity and Metabolism 2010; 6: 29-33.

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