The TREND Study: Tapered Reduction in Energy Intake as a Novel Approach to Dieting
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Obesity Weight Loss |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Endocrinology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 45 |
| Updated: | 8/23/2018 |
| Start Date: | August 2016 |
| End Date: | May 11, 2018 |
TREND is a pilot randomized trial comparing two alternative methods of initiating a
low-calorie weight loss diet. The study will compare the traditional diet initiation of
abruptly dropping energy intake to 1000 kcal/day for women and 1200 kcal/day for men versus a
6 week tapering of energy intake from a baseline level. These two approaches will be compared
with respect to their impact on energy regulatory systems of the body, weight loss and other
measures, up to a year after diet initiation.
low-calorie weight loss diet. The study will compare the traditional diet initiation of
abruptly dropping energy intake to 1000 kcal/day for women and 1200 kcal/day for men versus a
6 week tapering of energy intake from a baseline level. These two approaches will be compared
with respect to their impact on energy regulatory systems of the body, weight loss and other
measures, up to a year after diet initiation.
Diets are the mainstay of many obesity treatment programs, yet they fail for a variety of
reasons. Patients find it difficult to comply with caloric restriction during active weight
loss, and to adhere to long-term changes that promote weight loss maintenance. Underlying
these difficulties are a number of physiologic changes enacted by the body in response to
energy restriction. These changes promote increased hunger, decreased satiety and slowed
metabolic rate, making diet compliance and sustained weight loss very difficult. From the
body's perspective, a rapid and substantial drop in caloric intake may represent a metabolic
emergency, and it responds accordingly, in an attempt to maintain body weight.
Weight loss results only from achieving and maintaining a large energy deficit, but it is not
known whether the initiation phase of diets would be more likely to promote success if it
were done gradually, in the form of a caloric taper. We hypothesize that, by slowly
introducing a prescribed caloric restriction over a period of 1-2 months (rather than using
an immediate drop in calories), the body's homeostatic response to energy restriction might
be blunted or circumvented, resulting in lower levels of hunger, improved satiety, and better
preservation of metabolic rate during diet initiation - all factors that would promote
adherence and successful weight loss.
To test this hypothesis, the investigators will conduct a pilot randomized feeding trial
comparing two types of low-calorie diets with similar macronutrient composition. Although
both diets will ultimately rely on similar caloric deficits to produce weight loss, they will
differ at the point of diet initiation. The following will be compared: (1) a traditional
diet, where the entire energy deficit is initiated immediately; and (2) a "caloric taper"
diet, during which participants will be gradually reduced from baseline levels of energy
consumption to the lower calorie level required for weight loss, over a 6-week period.
After a 2-week run-in to establish equilibrium weight among 40 eligible persons, 30 obese
adults will be randomized to the 2 study arms and follow them for 52 weeks. We will compare
the two groups with respect to the following outcomes, measured in terms of change from
baseline (week 0) levels:
1. Circulating levels of the orexogenic hormone, Ghrelin, at weeks 1, 6, 12, 24, and 52;
2. Circulating levels of the "satiety" hormones, Leptin and Glucagon-like Peptide (GLP-1)
at weeks 1, 6, 12, 24, and 52;
3. Body composition, as assessed with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, at 24 and 52 weeks;
4. Resting metabolic rate as assessed by indirect calorimetry at 24 and 52 weeks;
5. Change in body weight (kg) and body mass index (kg/m2) at weeks 6,12, 24 and 52;
6. Self-reported hunger (using VAS) and compliance with program at weeks 1, 6, 12, 24 and
52.
7. Change in weight-related quality of life, using the IWQOL-LITE at weeks 12, 24, and 52.
Hypothesis: patients in the "taper" arm will experience less activation of body regulatory
systems designed to oppose weight loss, with similar weight loss by 24 weeks and greater
weight loss maintenance by 52 weeks, compared to "traditional low-calorie diet" arm patients.
reasons. Patients find it difficult to comply with caloric restriction during active weight
loss, and to adhere to long-term changes that promote weight loss maintenance. Underlying
these difficulties are a number of physiologic changes enacted by the body in response to
energy restriction. These changes promote increased hunger, decreased satiety and slowed
metabolic rate, making diet compliance and sustained weight loss very difficult. From the
body's perspective, a rapid and substantial drop in caloric intake may represent a metabolic
emergency, and it responds accordingly, in an attempt to maintain body weight.
Weight loss results only from achieving and maintaining a large energy deficit, but it is not
known whether the initiation phase of diets would be more likely to promote success if it
were done gradually, in the form of a caloric taper. We hypothesize that, by slowly
introducing a prescribed caloric restriction over a period of 1-2 months (rather than using
an immediate drop in calories), the body's homeostatic response to energy restriction might
be blunted or circumvented, resulting in lower levels of hunger, improved satiety, and better
preservation of metabolic rate during diet initiation - all factors that would promote
adherence and successful weight loss.
To test this hypothesis, the investigators will conduct a pilot randomized feeding trial
comparing two types of low-calorie diets with similar macronutrient composition. Although
both diets will ultimately rely on similar caloric deficits to produce weight loss, they will
differ at the point of diet initiation. The following will be compared: (1) a traditional
diet, where the entire energy deficit is initiated immediately; and (2) a "caloric taper"
diet, during which participants will be gradually reduced from baseline levels of energy
consumption to the lower calorie level required for weight loss, over a 6-week period.
After a 2-week run-in to establish equilibrium weight among 40 eligible persons, 30 obese
adults will be randomized to the 2 study arms and follow them for 52 weeks. We will compare
the two groups with respect to the following outcomes, measured in terms of change from
baseline (week 0) levels:
1. Circulating levels of the orexogenic hormone, Ghrelin, at weeks 1, 6, 12, 24, and 52;
2. Circulating levels of the "satiety" hormones, Leptin and Glucagon-like Peptide (GLP-1)
at weeks 1, 6, 12, 24, and 52;
3. Body composition, as assessed with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, at 24 and 52 weeks;
4. Resting metabolic rate as assessed by indirect calorimetry at 24 and 52 weeks;
5. Change in body weight (kg) and body mass index (kg/m2) at weeks 6,12, 24 and 52;
6. Self-reported hunger (using VAS) and compliance with program at weeks 1, 6, 12, 24 and
52.
7. Change in weight-related quality of life, using the IWQOL-LITE at weeks 12, 24, and 52.
Hypothesis: patients in the "taper" arm will experience less activation of body regulatory
systems designed to oppose weight loss, with similar weight loss by 24 weeks and greater
weight loss maintenance by 52 weeks, compared to "traditional low-calorie diet" arm patients.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Employee of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
- BMI 30-40 kg/m2
- Interested in weight loss
- <90 min/wk of exercise at baseline
- Receives medical care through Wake Forest and has WakeOne account
Exclusion Criteria:
- Already participating in another diet or weight loss program or research study
- History of bariatric surgery
- History of eating disorder
- History of cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer)
- History of thyroid disease
- History of severe mental illness
- Diagnosis of diabetes
- Currently pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy
- Peri or post-menopausal
- Food allergies or sensitivities
- Vegetarian
- Night Shift worker
- Planning prolonged travel in next 6-8 months or frequent out of town travel
- on any medication that could promote weight loss or weight gain
We found this trial at
1
site
1 Medical Center Blvd
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157
336-716-2011
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