Association between stages of change regarding weight reduction in patients with cardiovascular risk factors: A randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Background: There is very low-quality evidence that the transtheoretical stages of change model combined with physical activity or diet, or both, can result in significant improvements in dietary and physical activity habits. Objective: To evaluate the association between stages of change on weight reduction, after a nutritional intervention, in patients with cardiovascular risk. Methods: In a randomized controlled clinical trial, patients >18 years old with body mass index ≥25 kg/m2 and at least two cardiovascular risk factors were distributed to an intervention or control group. The intervention group received, according to stage of change, a multidisciplinary intervention formed by a nutritionist, a psychologist, a chef and a physiotherapist to improve healthy eating, while the control group was given a nutritional prescription. Stage of change from the transtheoretical model, anthropometric variables, physical activity, and 24-hour recall of food intake were measured at baseline and 12 months postintervention. The main outcomes were change in weight, waist and hip circumferences. Results: We included 188 subjects (intervention group= 93, control group= 95), where 75% were female, 68.6% had obesity, and mean age 50.3±13. After 12-months, subjects in the intervention group that were ready to change showed a greater decrease in weight and energy intake, with differences between ready to change vs not ready to change subjects and an interaction between intervention group and ready to change. Conclusions: An intervention with a multidisciplinary team can be as effective as the current standard of care in promoting weight loss when taking into account baseline stage of change.

RESUMEN Introducción: existe poca evidencia sobre el efecto de la etapa de cambio del modelo transteórico en conjunto con actividad física, dieta, o ambas, en los hábitos dietéticos y de actividad física. Objetivo: evaluar el efecto de una intervención nutricional y la etapa de cambio inicial sobre la reducción de peso después de una intervención nutricional en pacientes con riesgo cardiovascular. Métodos: Ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado. Pacientes >18 años con índice de masa corporal ≥25 kg/m2 y al menos 2 factores de riesgo cardiovascular fueron asignados a: grupo intervención o grupo control. El grupo de intervención recibió de acuerdo a la etapa de cambio una intervención multidisciplinaria formada por: nutricionista, psicólogo, chef y fisioterapeuta, mientras que el grupo control solo recibió prescripción nutricional habitual. Se evaluaron al inicio del estudio y 12 meses después de la intervención: etapa de cambio del modelo transteórico, variables antropométricas, actividad física y recordatorio de 24 horas. Resultados: se incluyeron 188 sujetos (grupo intervención 93, grupo control 95), 75% eran mujeres, 68,6% tenían obesidad, con promedio de 50.3±13. Después de 12 meses, los sujetos en el grupo de intervención que estaban listos para el cambio, mostraron una mayor disminución en el peso y en el consumo calórico, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la interacción grupo y etapa de cambio. Conclusiones: Una intervención con un equipo multidisciplinario puede ser tan eficaz como el tratamiento habitual para promover la pérdida de peso cuando se tiene en cuenta la etapa de cambio basal.

Body image perception and quality of life in patients who underwent breast surgery.

Quality of Life (QoL) has become a standard measure in assessing the effectiveness of medical interventions. We compared the differences between QoL and body image scale (BIS) in a group of patients who underwent breast surgery, including lumpectomy or conservative surgery, modified radical mastectomy and radical mastectomy with breast reconstruction. We included patients who underwent breast surgery between August of 2005 and June of 2006 in two tertiary referral centers in Mexico City. Two self-administered questionnaires assessing body image perception, BIS and quality of life (SF-36), were assigned and a physician-conducted interview was done. We stratified patients by age, marital status, and scholar grade. The sample comprised 202 patients. The BIS results yielded: the group with a benign lesion demonstrated favorable body image perception when compared with the malignant lesion group. A confirmed diagnosis of malignancy hinders QoL in older and younger age groups. Conservative surgery and breast reconstruction improves QoL in younger patients without significance in the older group. The most significant variable that hinders the BIS and QoL is the cancer diagnosis. Impact of conservative surgery and breast reconstruction in body image perception and quality of life is influenced by patient age and educational level.

Further validation of the IBS-QOL: female Mexican IBS patients have poorer quality of life than females from North Carolina.

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)-Quality of Life (QOL) is the most extensively validated health-related quality of life (HRQOL)-specific instrument for IBS with appropriate evidence for psychometric validity. Our aim was to linguistically validate the IBS-QOL for Mexico according to standard guidelines, to conduct further psychometric validation, and to compare the HRQOL between IBS patients from Mexico and North Carolina (University of North Carolina). Construct validity was tested by correlating scores from the Mexican Spanish IBS-QOL with those for anxiety and depression obtained by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Also, HRQOL from Rome I female IBS patients who consulted a tertiary referral center in Mexico was compared with that of female patients from UNC matched by age and bowel habit. A general univariate linear model was done to determine the most important variable over HRQOL, place of origin, or bowel habit. The majority of the IBS-QOL items had a negative correlation with depression as well as with anxiety. Compared to patients from UNC, the Mexican ones reported significant lower scores on Body Image and Health Worry and a trend in Interference with activities and in the Overall score. There were some differences in Dysphoria and Interference that were related to bowel habit, independently of the place of origin. In conclusion, the IBS-QOL validated in Mexican Spanish has shown construct validity. Using this instrument we found that female IBS patients who consulted a tertiary referral center in Mexico have lower HRQOL than those in North Carolina at least in factors such as Body Image and Health Worry.

A single session of reassurance can acutely improve the self-perception of impairment in patients with IBS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the reported frequency and self-perceived importance of factors related to health care seeking by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and the effect of reassurance on these factors. METHODS: Fifty-five IBS patients, consulting for the first time, answered a questionnaire designed to evaluate these factors (FRQ), measurements of anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL). A thorough explanation of the disease and reassurance were given, and the FRQ was answered again. RESULTS: The frequency of factors was: pain/discomfort, 78%; cancer fear, 11%; daily function impairment, 33%; symptoms stressfulness, 60%; and none, 2%. Pain/discomfort and symptom stressfulness were considered the most important ones. Cancer fear and symptom stressfulness correlated with anxiety (P=.003, .042), depression (P=.038, .019), and daily function impairment with depression (P=.05). Cancer fear, daily function impairment, and symptom stressfulness impacted on QoL. Reassurance acutely decreased the self-perception of daily function impairment (P=.003), independent of the patient's educational level. CONCLUSIONS: Reassurance during the first consultation for IBS decreased the self-perception of impairment in daily function.

Quality of life in bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is the treatment of choice for morbid obesity. Since bariatric operations alter gastrointestinal anatomy, they may induce symptoms that have a negative impact on quality of life (QOL). The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze QOL after bariatric surgery. METHODS: The QOL index questionnaire (GIQLI) was applied to 45 surgically treated morbidly obese patients (15 vertical banded gastroplasty, 15 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), and 15 distal RYGBP) and to 15 non-operated morbidly obese controls. Follow-up was of 1-year minimum. The GIQLI evaluates physical and mental well-being, digestion and bowel habits. RESULTS: Physical and mental well-being as well as the overall QOL were significantly higher in the operated patients. There were no significant differences in digestion and bowel habits between the groups. Differences in QOL were not related to the type of surgical procedure. CONCLUSION: Overall QOL was significantly better in operated than in non-operated patients. There is no negative impact of bariatric surgery on QOL related to GI symptoms.