Multidisciplinary Treatment of Obesity with a Protein-Sparing Modified Fast: Results in 668 Outpatients
October 1985
in “
American Journal of Public Health
”
TLDR A weight loss program with a special fast helped patients lose an average of 41-47 pounds and improved their health, but maintaining the weight loss was challenging.
In a 38-year-old study, 668 obese outpatients participated in a weight control program that included a protein-sparing modified fast (PSMF), resulting in an average weight loss of 47 pounds at the lowest point and 41 pounds after a maintenance period. The program also led to significant health improvements, such as reduced blood pressure and serum triglycerides. The most successful patients were those who were heaviest at the start, adhered to the PSMF the longest, and stayed in the maintenance program the longest. Side effects were mild, with no deaths during the PSMF and only five deaths occurring at least one year after the program, aligning with expected mortality rates. Despite these successes, many patients regained weight, underscoring the difficulty of long-term weight maintenance. The study highlights the importance of clinical supervision for very low calorie diets to improve long-term outcomes.
