ABSTRACT
Reduction in body weight by energy-restrictive diet and/or by increased physical activity reduces several health hazards associated with obesity including insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnoea, hypoxemia osteoarthritis, etc. the effect of weight loss by energy-restrictive diet on insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women who are non-diabetic and obese, is not well-established. This study is based on the hypothesis that weight-reduction through caloric restriction may normalize the obesity-induced hyperinsuliemia or insulin resistance in postmenopausal obese women who are at a great risk of development of glucose intolerance. Twenty non-diabetic postmenopausal females aged 45 to 55 years with body mass index [BMI] 30 or above kg/m[2] were placed at a low caloric diet [1000-1400 kcal], for 60 days. Following 60-day dietary treatment BMI reduced from 32.94 +/- 1.68 [Mean +/- SD] to 30.09 +/- 1.72 kg/m[2] [P<0.001]. The reduction in BMI in our study population was associated with decrease in fasting levels of insulin [from 219.48 +/- 14.10 to 150.25 +/- 19.69. The findings of the present study suggest that weight reduction through caloric restriction is an effective measure to normalize the obesity-induced hyperinsulinemia in postmenopausal women who are non-diabetic and obese, hence decreasing the risk of development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance