Mayo Clinic scientists have found that personalized obesity management is more effective than standard lifestyle interventions. The research was published in the journal The Lancet eClinicalMedicine.
A total of 165 people with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 kg/m2 and a mean age of 43 were included in the study. Based on the participants’ behavior, the scientists divided the obesity phenotypes into hedonic (pleasure-related) overeating, homeostatic (non-pleasure) overeating, and abnormally low energy expenditure.
81 participants adhered to standard obesity treatment and 84 participants by phenotype. All of them changed their diets and increased physical activity. At the same time, hedonists who overeat were advised to increase their fiber intake and reduce the number of meals to one or two meals a day, while those who did not feel full were advised to start each meal with protein foods three times a day. . Participants with abnormally low energy expenditure followed a standard low-calorie diet, also took post-workout protein supplements, and did at least 30 minutes of high-intensity interval training four to five times per week.
After 12 weeks, personal recommendations led to greater weight loss compared to the standard: 4.3 kg versus 7.4. Additionally, participants in the personalized therapy group showed greater reductions in fat mass, waist circumference, anxiety levels, and triglyceride and cholesterol levels. They also gained more muscle mass and expend more energy at rest.