Mariana Dimitrov Ulian, Ana Jéssica Pinto, Priscila de Morais Sato,
Fabiana B. Benatti, Patricia Lopes de Campos-Ferraz, Desire Coelho,
Odilon J. Roble, Fernanda Sabatini, Isabel Perez, Luiz Aburad, André Vessoni,
Ramiro Fernandez Unsain, Marcelo Macedo Rogero, Geni Sampaio, Bruno Gualano
and Fernanda B. Scagliusi
Abstract
We examined whether weight loss following HAES®-based interventions associates with
changes in cardiometabolic risk factors and quality of life of women with obesity. This was
an exploratory, ancillary analysis of a 7-month, mixed-method, randomized controlled
trial. Fifty-five women (age: 33.0 ± 7.2; BMI: 30–39.9 kg/m2) were included in this study.
Body weight, cardiovascular risk factors, clustered cardiometabolic risk, and quality of
life were assessed before (Pre) and after HAES®-based interventions (Post). Delta scores
(Post-Pre) were calculated for each outcome and used in linear regression models. After
adjusting by potential confounders, weight loss was associated with improvements in
waist circumference ( = 0.83, p < 0.001), fasting glycemia ( = 0.45, p = 0.036), total
cholesterol ( = 1.48, p = 0.024), LDL ( = 1.33, p = 0.012), clustered cardiometabolic
risk ( = 0.18, p = 0.006), and quality of life ( = −1.05, p = 0.007). All participants
but one who reduced body weight (n = 11) improved clustered cardiometabolic risk and
quality of life. Of relevance, 34% and 73% of the participants who maintained or gained
weight improved clustered cardiometabolic risk and quality of life, respectively, although
the magnitude of improvements was lower than that among those who lose weight.
Improvements in cardiovascular risk factors and quality of life following HAES®-based
interventions associated with weight loss as expected. However, most of the participants
who maintained or even gained weight experienced benefits to some extent. This
suggests that weight-neutral, lifestyle-modification interventions may improve wellness
and health-related outcomes, even in the absence of weight loss.