Abstract 21230: The Beneficial Effects of an Intense Combined Weight Loss Exercise and Diet Program on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Inflammation - An Analysis From the Biggest Loser Program

Background: Obesity is associated with insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, inflammation, cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic dysfunction, and coronary artery disease. This study investigates the favorable effects of weight-loss exercise and diet program on IR, dyslipidemia, inflammation, carotid artery distenisbility index (CaDI) and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in the Biggest Loser Program. Methods: Fourteen subjects with morbid obesity (age 32±11 years, 50% female) participated in the Biggest Loser program, and underwent an intense weight-loss exercise and diet program. Serum insulin level, glucose, lipid profile, high-sensitivity CRP, HbA1c, CaDI and CIMT were measured at baseline and 8-month follow-up. CIMT was measured 10-mm below the common carotid (CC) bifurcation during mid-diastole phase. CaDI was defined as: [(End-systole - End-diastole CC cross-sectional area (CSA))/(End-diastole CC CSA x systemic pulse pressure) × 1000)]. IR was calculated by HOMA index. Results: At 8-month follow-up, IR, HbA1c, triglyceride, hs CRP and CIMT significantly decreased as compared to their baseline values. Similarly, CaDI and HDL-C increase significantly at 8-month follow-up (Table). The decrease in IR, hs CRP and increase in HDL-C was positively correlated with increase in CaDI(r 2 =0.72, p=0.0001). A strong inverse correlation was noted between decrease in CIMT and increases in CaDI (r 2 =−0.71, p=0.0001). (Table) Conclusions: This study demonstrates that an intense combined weight-loss, exercise and diet program is associated with favorable improvement in carotid vascular function and, atherosclerosis risk factors, and reduces inflammation.