Obesity Pillars · Published 2025-12-05 · DOI 10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100241
Background: A modest weight loss of ≥5 % among patients with obesity is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and other obesity-related complications. Dietary interventions play a central role in obesity management and improving metabolic health, yet region-specific data from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains limited. Methods: This retrospective chart review aims to assess effectiveness of dietary intervention on weight loss outcomes in patients with overweight and obesity attending a Center of Excellence for Weight Reduction and Obesity Management in UAE. This study included adult patients with BMI ≥25 kg/m2 who received individualized dietary counseling between September 2018 and September 2021. Patients who had undergone bariatric procedures or on obesity medications were excluded. Anthropometric and body composition data were collected before and after intervention. Outcomes included changes in weight, BMI, fat mass, visceral fat, and other metabolic parameters. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests, correlation coefficients, and multivariate regression to assess associations between intervention frequency, duration, and weight-related outcomes. Results: A total of 266 patients (mean age 44.46 ± 8.18 years; 63.9 % female) were included. Following the intervention, participants achieved significant mean weight loss of 5.12 % (p < 0.001), with corresponding reductions in BMI (4.93 %, p < 0.001), fat mass (10.11 %, p < 0.001), and visceral fat (34.34 %, p = 0.014). More frequent sessions and longer follow-up durations were significantly associated with greater improvements in BMI, fat mass, and fat percentage. Gender-based analysis revealed that males experienced greater reductions in fat mass and resting energy expenditure compared to females. Conclusion: The dietary intervention resulted in significant improvements in anthropometric and body composition indices. These findings support the efficacy of individualized, dietitian-led interventions in managing obesity. The observed gender differences highlight the importance of tailored approaches in obesity care. This study contributes to the limited body of evidence on effective, non-pharmacological obesity management strategies in UAE.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
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