Rationale:
Weight loss is associated with improvement in cardiovascular risk factors and decreased risk of coronary events.
Objectives:
Describe and compare weight loss achieved by obese (BMI >= 30) and non-obese (BMI < 30) participants in a cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) program and assess maintenance of weight loss one year after completion of CR while participating in a cardiovascular maintenance (CM) program.
Methodology:
Retrospective analysis was designed assessing weight loss and weight loss maintenance for obese and non-obese participants completing a CR and participating in CM. Analysis included participants participating in CM for a minimum of 6 months after completing CR with a pre and post-program body weight and for whom body weight was measured at 1 year +/- 6 months after completion of the CR while participating in CM. Between 1/1/01 and 12/31/03, 97 individuals met these criteria. Pre and post program and 1 year body weights were compared using paired t-tests.
Results:
Both obese and non-obese participants achieved a significant reduction in body weight after completion of CR with obese participants losing significantly more weight than their non-obese counterparts (P =.001). One year after completion of CR, obese participants in the CM had experienced some weight re-gain but it was not significant. However, non-obese participants in CM experienced a significant weight gain at 1 year in excess of the initial loss achieved in CR.
Conclusion:
Obese participants achieved significant weight loss in a CR program and maintained that weight loss in a CM program. Non-obese individuals achieved modest but significant weight losses in CR but appear to follow population trends toward weight gain when participating in CM.