Background : Among the obese and those interested in weight reduction, the use of meal replacements recently has gained popularity. The efficacy and safety of meal replacements, however, has been questioned. In addition, the imprudent use of meal replacements lead to significant economic costs. Therefore, this study will investigate the efficacy and safety of meal replacements by examining obese women who take meal replacements.
Methods: This experiment was conducted with subjects who volunteered through the internet and the mass media. The duration of the experiment was six weeks. The subjects consisted of 54 obese women (BMI>25) whose ages ranged from 25 to 35.54 subjects were divided into two groups : Group A, the experimental group, took meal replacements for breakfast and dinner. Group B, the control group, received instruction concerning exercises and diets. anthropometric measurement, body composition and metabolic variations were evaluated the first day, the third week and the sixth week; in addition, the subjects’ diet diaries were analyzed.
Results : 42 out of 54 finished the six weeks experiments. 35 out of the 42 completed diet diaries. The results are based on the 35 subjects’ diet diaries. Group A took 1042.61±179.73 kcal/day, and group B took 1313.49±308.07 kcal/day for six weeks. This is a statistically significant difference between two groups.
Group A showed a significant reduction in weight (-3.84±1.97 kg), the percentage of body fat (-1.42±2.20%), and in waist and hip circumference. Group B also showed a significant reduction in weight (-3.39±2.25 kg) and in waist and the hip circumference. In group A, there was a significant reduction in the LDL cholesterol and in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In group B, there was a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and in systolic blood pressure.
There was no significant difference in changes of weight and body fat between the two groups.
Conclusion : From these results, Korean women who took meal replacements twice a day for six weeks reduced their oral intake, weight and body fat. However, long-term studies are needed to clarify the comparison between two groups.
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