Effects of Visceral Fat Accumulation Awareness on a Web-Based Weight-Loss Program: Japanese Study of Visceral Adiposity and Lifestyle Information—Utilization and Evaluation (J-VALUE)
A reduction of visceral fat is important for improvement of metabolic risk. This study was designed to compare the effects of a web-based program alone or together with measurement and self-awareness of accumulated visceral fat in Japanese workers. A new noninvasive device to measure visceral fat accumulation was introduced, and efficacy on weight-loss and improvement of healthy behaviors were examined. This study was conducted according to Helsinki declaration and approved by the ethical committee of Japan Hospital Organization, National Kyoto Hospital. Two-hundred and sixteen overweight and obese males with BMI of more than 23 participated from 8 healthcare offices of 3 Japanese private companies. Subjects were randomly allocated into control group, Web-based weight-loss program (Web), or Web + Visceral fat measurement group (Web + VFA). Eighty-one percent of participants completed the study. Reductions of body weight, waist circumference, and BMI were the largest in Web + VFA group, and the differences between groups were significant by ANOVA. Improvements of healthy behaviors were the largest in Web + VFA group, and the differences of healthy eating improvement scores between Web + VFA and control groups were significant. Our findings suggest that measurement and awareness of visceral fat are effective in weight reduction in overweight and obese males in the workplace. 1. Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is rapidly becoming one of the major health issues of the 21st century [1, 2]. A recent survey performed by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare projected that approximately 8.9 million people have diabetes and another 13.2 million people are at high risk for the disease in Japan [3, 4]. Obesity and upper body/abdominal fat distribution are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia [5, 6], heart disease, [7] and overall mortality [8]. Body fat distribution is recognized as a predictor of the metabolic complications of obesity [9]. Indeed, visceral adipose tissue was found to be more strongly linked with the risk of hyperlipidemia [10, 11], insulin resistance [12–14], and diabetes [15, 16] than subcutaneous fat. In these studies, computed tomography (CT) scans at the umbilical level were used for the assessment of visceral fat accumulation (VFA). This method is not cost-effective, however, and leads to radiation exposure. A new noninvasive medical device that measures visceral fat by area has recently been under development [17]. Using a Web-based weight-loss program, the aim of this study was to
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