Effect of behavioral weight‐loss program on biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease risk: Heart Health Study randomized trial

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to determine whether novel biomarkers of cardiometabolic health improve in response to a 12‐month behavioral weight‐loss intervention and to compare benefits of diet alone with diet plus physical activity for these biomarkers.MethodsParticipants (N = 374) were randomized to either diet alone (DIET), diet plus 150 min/wk of prescribed moderate‐intensity physical activity (DIET + PA150), or diet plus 250 min/wk of prescribed moderate‐intensity physical activity (DIET + PA250). Biomarker concentrations were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Mixed models assessed for a time effect, group effect, or group by time interaction.ResultsAll groups significantly improved body weight (time: p < 0.0001), Lipoprotein Insulin Resistance Index score (time: p < 0.0001), Diabetes Risk Index score (time: p < 0.0001), branched‐chain amino acid concentration (time: p < 0.0001), and GlycA concentration (time: p < 0.0001), with no group effect or group by time interactions.ConclusionsAll intervention groups prompted a notable beneficial change among biomarkers of insulin resistance and cardiometabolic health. However, the addition of at least moderate‐intensity physical activity to a diet‐only intervention did not provide any additional benefit. These findings highlight that an average weight loss of approximately 10% profoundly impacts biomarkers of insulin resistance and cardiometabolic disease in adults with overweight or obesity.