Obesity Science & Practice · 8 authors, 2 centres
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This uncontrolled 16-month lifestyle intervention study assessed the effects of a program emphasizing a healthy plant-based diet on cardiovascular risk markers in mostly middle-aged and elderly participants. Significant improvements in body weight, BMI, and LDL cholesterol were observed at 16 months, but most other risk marker improvements seen at 10 weeks were not sustained.
The study evaluated a 16-month lifestyle intervention program for 115 mostly middle-aged and elderly participants, focusing on a healthy plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management, and community support. The intervention yielded significant improvements in dietary quality, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and multiple cholesterol and metabolic markers at 10 weeks. At the final 16-month follow-up, only body weight, BMI, and measured LDL cholesterol showed significant decreases from baseline. The study found that increases in the healthful plant-based diet index were associated with improvements in some risk markers. The findings suggest a plant-based dietary recommendation is acceptable and may improve body weight, but the lifestyle program requires optimization for sustained improvements in other cardiovascular risk markers.
