NO DETERIORATION OF GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE IN WEIGHT CYCLING OBESE

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether weight cycling is detrimental to the ch anges in glucose tolerance in obese individuals without overt NIDDM an d related to the amplitude of weight cycling. DESIGN: Historical prosp ective observational study of a hospital-based cohort.SUBJECTS: One hu ndred twenty-five obese individuals drawn from the medical records of the Hospital of Endocrinology, University of Tartu, in whom at least o ne weight cycle was detected. Selected cutoff value for weight cycling set to 3, 6, 9 and 12 kg of weight loss and subsequent regain. MEASUR EMENTS: Weight measurements and oral glucose tolerance tests. The late st oral glucose tolerance test and the one during the first visit comp ared by the 2 h blood glucose values and areas under the blood glucose curve. RESULTS: No deterioration of glucose tolerance recorded in any of the groups with different cutoff values for weight cycling. No tre nd towards the deterioration of glucose tolerance with increasing ampl itude of weight cycles. CONCLUSION: We cannot claim that weight cyclin g is detrimental to glucose tolerance in non-diabetic obese individual s. This effect is independent of the amplitude of weight cycling. Weig ht reduction may be recommended to obese individuals for the preventio n of NIDDM even if it is unsuccessful and the phenomenon of weight cyc ling results.