Avoiding Weight Gain in Cardiometabolic Disease: A Systematic Review

Abstract EN

Patients with cardiometabolic disease are at higher risk for obesity-related adverse effects.

Even without weight loss, weight maintenance may be beneficial.

We performed a systematic review to identify the effect of nonweight loss-focused lifestyle interventions in adults with cardiometabolic disease.

We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify comparative studies of lifestyle interventions (self-management, diet, exercise, or their combination) without a weight loss focus in adults with or at risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Weight, BMI, and waist circumference at ≥12 months were the primary outcomes.

Of 24,870 citations, we included 12 trials (self-management, n=2; diet, n=2; exercise, n=2; combination, n=6) studying 4,206 participants.

Self-management plus physical activity ± diet versus minimal/no intervention avoided meaningful weight (−0.65 to −1.3 kg) and BMI (−0.4 to −0.7 kg/m2) increases.

Self-management and/or physical activity prevented meaningful waist circumference increases versus control (−2 to −4 cm).

In patients with cardiometabolic disease, self-management plus exercise may prevent weight and BMI increases and self-management and/or exercise may prevent waist circumference increases versus minimal/no intervention.

Future studies should confirm these findings and evaluate additional risk factors and clinical outcomes.