TABLE 1.
Baseline characteristics (n = 9037) of participants in a commercial weight-loss program including a VLCD (500 kcal/d), an LCD (1200–1500 kcal/d), or a restricted normal-food diet (1500–1800 kcal/d)1
| VLCD (n = 3773) | LCD (n = 4588) | Restricted normal-food diet (n = 676) | P | |
| Age (y) | 45 ± 12 (18–77)2 | 50 ± 11 (18–81) | 51 ± 12 (19–78) | <0.00134 |
| Female sex (%) | 80 | 86 | 81 | <0.00135 |
| Body weight (kg) | 98 ± 17 (64–195) | 85 ± 14 (54–190) | 81 ± 16 (51–166) | <0.0013–5 |
| Body weight, completers only (kg) | 98 ± 17 (64–188) | 86 ± 14 (54–190) | 82 ± 17 (51–166) | <0.0013–5 |
| BMI (%) | 34 ± 5 (22–58) | 30 ± 4 (21–68) | 29 ± 5 (18–54) | <0.0013–5 |
| <25 kg/m2 | 0.4 | 4.8 | 21.6 | |
| 25–29 kg/m2 | 16.9 | 53.0 | 49.4 | |
| 30–34 kg/m2 | 47.9 | 30.3 | 19.1 | |
| 35–39 kg/m2 | 23.5 | 9.3 | 6.8 | |
| ≥40 kg/m2 | 11.3 | 2.6 | 3.1 | |
| Waist circumference (cm) | 110 ± 12 (78–164) | 101 ± 11 (72–160) | 98 ± 13 (72–145) | <0.0013–5 |
| Waist circumference, completers only (cm) | 110 ± 12 (78–155) | 102 ± 11 (72–160) | 98 ± 13 (74–145) | <0.0013–5 |
| Waist circumference ≥102/88 cm (%)6 | 92 | 83 | 68 | |
| BMI ≥30 kg/m2 or waist circumference ≥102/88 cm (%)6 | 98 | 88 | 74 | |
| Comorbidities and drugs (%)7 | ||||
| History of CVD | 7.9 | 8.0 | 10.9 | 0.02645 |
| History of cancer | 1.6 | 2.6 | 3.7 | <0.0013–5 |
| Antiobesity drugs | ||||
| Orlistat | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0383 |
| Sibutramine | 1.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | <0.00134 |
| Diabetes | 1.9 | 2.4 | 7.2 | <0.00145 |
| Insulin | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.3 | <0.0013–5 |
| Oral antidiabetes | 1.8 | 2.0 | 5.8 | <0.00145 |
| Antidyslipidemia drugs | 5.8 | 7.9 | 9.2 | <0.0013–5 |
| Antihypertension drugs | 16.4 | 19.7 | 21.0 | <0.0013–5 |
| Antidepression drugs | 11.6 | 13.2 | 12.0 | 0.095 |
| Antipsychosis drugs | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.22 |
CVD, cardiovascular disease; LCD, low-calorie diet; VLCD, very-low-calorie diet.
Mean ± SD; range in parentheses (all such values).
VLCD compared with LCD.
VLCD compared with restricted normal-food diet.
LCD compared with restricted normal-food diet.
Waist circumference ≥102 cm for men, ≥88 cm for women.
Drug use was assessed during the period 6 mo before baseline through register linkage with the Prescribed Drug Register, whereas comorbidity data (except for diabetes) were retrieved from the National Patient Register during the past 5 y. Because diabetes is, to a large extent, treated in primary care, it was defined as use of either insulin or oral antidiabetics. Group differences were analyzed by using ANOVA with a Scheffe post hoc test.