
In a recent study published within the journal Dialogues in Health, a bunch of researchers examined the impact of adherence to the EAT-Lancet weight loss program during midlife on changes in body weight and waist circumference (WC) after a five-year period.
Study: Adherence to the EAT-Lancet weight loss program in midlife and development in weight or waist circumference after five years in a Danish cohort. Image Credit: marilyn barbone / Shutterstock
Background
The worldwide rise in obesity, a key risk factor for various non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular issues, cancers, and diabetes, highlights the urgent need for dietary shifts towards healthier, sustainable options. The EAT-Lancet weight loss program, proposed by the Lancet Commission on Planetary Health in 2019, offers a blueprint for such a shift, aiming to balance human health and planetary sustainability. It recommends increased consumption of fruits, vegetables, plant proteins, and unsaturated fats while reducing pork intake. Previous studies suggest vegetarian and similar diets may lower obesity risks. Nonetheless, research on the EAT-Lancet weight loss program’s effectiveness for long-term weight management, particularly in Denmark, where national guidelines echo its principles, is scarce. Further research is required to know the broader implications of the EAT-Lancet weight loss program on diverse populations and to explore its long-term effects on health and sustainability outcomes.
In regards to the study
The Danish Weight loss plan, Cancer and Health Cohort (DCH) study explored the impact of dietary patterns on health amongst middle-aged Danes, with over 57,000 participants providing weight loss program and lifestyle data. Researchers assessed adherence to the EAT-Lancet weight loss program using an in depth food frequency questionnaire. Physical measurements on the study’s onset included weight, WC, and height, with follow-up self-reported data collected five years later. These measures were validated to make sure accuracy, particularly the self-reported WC. Lifestyle aspects, similar to smoking status, physical activity, and medical history, were also recorded to regulate for potential confounders within the evaluation.
Statistical methods were rigorously chosen to investigate the info. Linear regression models explored the connection between the EAT-Lancet weight loss program adherence and changes in weight and WC, taking into consideration baseline measures and other lifestyle aspects. The study also considered whether baseline weight and WC could act as mediators on this relationship, thus exploring each the direct and indirect effects of weight loss program adherence on health outcomes. Moreover, Poisson regression models were used to estimate the chance of obesity and elevated WC based on dietary adherence, with adjustments made for baseline characteristics and potential outliers in self-reported measures.
The study also accounted for the potential for non-participation on the follow-up stage, using inverse probability weights to regulate for this bias. Sensitivity analyses further examined the robustness of findings, including the impact of developing significant health conditions throughout the study period.
Study results
In the current study, 44,296 participants from the initial 57,053 eligible individuals of the DCH were analyzed after excluding those with missing data. Notably, participants with higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet weight loss program were predominantly female, non-smokers, more educated, consumed less alcohol, and had a history of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia. Additionally they presented with lower weight, body mass index (BMI), and WC on the study’s outset, despite the common WC exceeding really useful levels across all adherence groups.
The first evaluation revealed no significant weight change at follow-up amongst participants with the best versus the bottom EAT-Lancet adherence scores, even after adjustments for energy intake. Nonetheless, a distinct picture emerged for WC, with those in the best adherence category showing a significantly lower WC at follow-up in comparison with those with the bottom adherence. This association continued even after adjusting for energy intake.
When baseline weight and WC weren’t adjusted for, under the hypothesis that they may mediate the weight loss program’s impact, the best adherence group showed significantly lower weight and WC at follow-up. This means the weight loss program’s potential direct and indirect effects on these outcomes. Moreover, analyses stratified by age, sex, baseline weight, and BMI revealed that the connection between the EAT-Lancet rating and weight or WC at follow-up differed mainly in groups stratified by BMI, indicating that baseline body composition might influence the weight loss program’s effectiveness.
For people with a baseline BMI under 30, those with the best adherence to the EAT-Lancet weight loss program had a significantly lower risk of developing obesity and elevated WC at follow-up, underscoring the weight loss program’s potential in obesity prevention. Sensitivity analyses, including adjustments for non-participation and excluding those that developed significant health conditions throughout the follow-up, supported the fundamental findings, suggesting robust associations between weight loss program adherence and health outcomes.
Conclusions
To summarize, the study found no significant relationship between the EAT-Lancet weight loss program rating and body weight after five years but identified a slight inverse association with WC. Higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet weight loss program correlated with a reduced risk of developing obesity and elevated WC. This investigation contributes to understanding the EAT-Lancet weight loss program’s impact on weight management, suggesting potential advantages in WC reduction and obesity prevention, reinforcing the necessity for further long-term studies to explore the weight loss program’s effectiveness in broader populations.