Abstract
Excess weight is associated with negative health outcomes. Meal replacements are effective
in promoting favorable body composition changes in civilian populations; however,
their efficacy with military service members who have unique lifestyles is unknown.
The objective of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the efficacy of
the Army's education-based weight-management program, “Weigh to Stay,” with and without
meal replacements for improving blood lipids, and to promote weight and body fat loss
in overweight US Army soldiers. Soldiers (n=113; 76 males/37 females) attending Weigh
to Stay at Fort Bragg, NC, in 2006/2007 were randomized to Weigh to Stay only or a
commercially available meal-replacement program (two meal replacements per day) in
conjunction with Weigh to Stay, and followed until Army body fat standards were met
or for 6 months if standards were not met. Study completers (n=46) in both treatment
groups lost weight (Weigh to Stay: −2.7±4.3 kg; meal replacers: −3.8±3.5 kg) and fat
mass (Weigh to Stay, −2.7±3.2 kg; meal replacers: −2.9±2.5 kg), and improved high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations (Weigh to Stay: 13±9 mg/dL [0.34±0.23 mmol/L];
meal replacers: 8±7 mg/dL [0.21±0.18 mmol/L]; P<0.05); however, no between-group differences were observed. Attrition was lower (P=0.009) and success in meeting body fat standards tended to be higher (P=0.06) for the meal replacers vs Weigh to Stay participants. Intent-to-treat analysis
demonstrated that meal replacers lost more weight (1.2±0.5 kg), percent body fat (1.0%±0.4%),
and fat mass (0.8±0.4 kg) compared to Weigh to Stay volunteers (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that meal replacement use can be recommended as a potential
adjunct strategy to Weigh to Stay.
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Biography
T. J. Smith is a research dietitian, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA.
Biography
J. P. Karl is a research dietitian, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA.
Biography
S. McGraw is a research nutritionist, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA.
Biography
A. J. Young is division chief, Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA.
Biography
COL G. P. Bathalon is Deputy Commander, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA.
Biography
LTC L. D. Sigrist is Director of the Graduate Program in Nutrition, Fort Sam Houston, TX; at the time of the study, she was director of the Weight Management Program, Military Nutrition Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA.
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 30,
2009
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
