Efficacy of a Meal-Replacement Program for Promoting Blood Lipid Changes and Weight and Body Fat Loss in US Army Soldiers

• Published in: Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2010-02, Vol.110 (2), p.268-273
• Main Authors: Smith, Tracey J., MS, RD, Sigrist, Lori D., LTC, Bathalon, Gaston P., COL, McGraw, Susan, Karl, J. Philip, MS, RD, Young, Andrew J., PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adult; Armed forces; Body Composition - physiology; body fat; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Diet; Diet, Reducing; dieting; Exercise - physiology; Female; Food, Formulated; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Humans; ideal body weight; Internal Medicine; Male; meal replacement; Meals; Military Personnel; military rations; nutrition education; nutritional intervention; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Nutritional Sciences - education; Obesity - blood; Obesity - diet therapy; Overweight - blood; Overweight - diet therapy; Patient Compliance; randomized clinical trials; Treatment Outcome; United States; Weight control; weight control programs; weight loss; Weight Loss - physiology; Wellness programs
• ISSN: 0002-8223; 2212-2672; 1878-3570; 2212-2680
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.10.039

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