Inpatient treatment for severe obesity: A retrospective cohort study in Brazil, comparing exposure variables in a secondary data analysis.

<h4>Introduction</h4>Very low-calorie diets with hospitalization have demonstrated promise as a viable therapeutic option for severe obesity and its associated comorbidities. However, large studies providing a comprehensive longitudinal observation of patients undergoing this therapy are...

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Main Authors: Domingos L S Rios, Márcia C A M Oliveira, Sérgio Q Braga, Matheus J Chamorro, Beatriz L B Cunha, Ana C R Reis, Ana P Guimarães, Ana D N Silva, Dandara A R Silva, Edilene M Q Araújo, Magno M W Pimentel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0303489
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Summary:<h4>Introduction</h4>Very low-calorie diets with hospitalization have demonstrated promise as a viable therapeutic option for severe obesity and its associated comorbidities. However, large studies providing a comprehensive longitudinal observation of patients undergoing this therapy are lacking. We evaluated the effectiveness of treating severe obesity in hospitalized patients, using very low-calorie diets and clinical support to develop lifestyle changes.<h4>Methods</h4>This study was a retrospective cohort comparing exposure variables in a secondary data analysis with a pre-post treatment design. Data were obtained from medical records of patients with severe obesity (grade II or III) treated in a Brazilian obesity specialist hospital from 2016 to 2022. The patients underwent a very low-calorie diet (500-800 kCal/day) and immersive changes in lifestyle habits, monitored by a multidisciplinary team. At 3 months, 777 patients presented complete data and 402 presented complete data at 6 months. The study compared changes in bioimpedance and laboratory tests, between men and women and age groups.<h4>Results</h4>Three months of hospitalization yielded significant reductions in weight, body mass index (BMI), body fat, skeletal muscle mass, glucose, inflammatory, and lipid parameters. These reductions were more pronounced after 6 months, nearly doubling those observed at 3 months. In women, BMI and fat mass reduced by 10.4% and 15.2% at 3 months and 20.4% and 31.3% at 6 months, respectively. In men, BMI and fat mass decreased by 12.9% and 25.3 at 3 months and 23.6% and 45.3% at 6 months, respectively. Elderly individuals (aged ≥ 60 years) had smaller reductions in BMI and fat mass than non-elderly individuals (aged < 60 years) but still presented significant improvements.<h4>Conclusion</h4>This study suggests the viability of treating severe obesity by hospitalization with low-calorie diets and immersive lifestyle changes. This treatment modality significantly improves anthropometric measurements, glucose, lipids, and inflammatory markers, thereby reducing cardiovascular risk.
ISSN:1932-6203