Efficacy of a Meal Replacement Diet Plan Compared to a Food-based Diet Plan after a Period of Weight loss: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic, complex, multifactorial disorder that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States [1]. Currently, an estimated 66% of the population is categorized as overweight or obese, and 32.2% obese [1,2]. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality secondary to complicating conditions that include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma, sleep apnea, arthritis, reproductive complications, and psychological disturbances [3]. Moreover, obesity is associated with greater degrees of inflammation and oxidative stress, which have recently been shown to underlie many chronic conditions, from cardiovascular disease and cancer, to metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, to neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson's disease [4,5-7]. Given the prevalence of obesity, its harmful consequences on human health, and the lack of effective treatment options, meal replacement diet plans represent a viable strategy for controlling weight and positively impacting health outcomes.