Exercise Capacity and Dyspnea in Obese Patients With Metabolic Syndrome: Effects of Weight Loss

Obese subjects partake in a medically supervised weight management program. This lifestyle modification program involves weekly three hour sessions for six months and monthly sessions for six months. The first twelve weeks comprise an initial weight loss phase when patients are placed on a 900 Kcal/day meal replacement. This is followed by a four week transition to a 1200-1800 Kcal diet followed by a ten week maintenance phase of 10 weekly sessions.The majority of weight loss occurs during the first 26 weeks followed by a 26 week period of stabilization of weight loss. Hence subjects are evaluated after the first 26 weeks.