Weight loss and role of fat free mass in obese patients

Abstract

Study objectiveWe evaluated body composition analysis, to monitor obese patients in the early stages of immune‐metabolic dysregulation. The expanded activated adipocytes induce a low‐grade chronic inflammation involving an altered body composition of Fat Free Mass (FFM),mostly muscle and bone tissue leading to the onset of Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS).Materials and methodsWe enrolled 109 patients 79 females and 30 males all free of disease but with MUS and problems of excess weight.We obtained parameters known as prognostic indicators for inflammatory processes by using BIA‐ACC bioimpedance device (Biotekna‐Italy), performed at the first medical examination, (time T0), and after 6 weeks of proteic, low‐caloric diet (1200 calories).ResultsAll patients decreased the BMI but 3 subgroups showed: a)75.23% loss of Fat Mass but also FFM b)17.43% loss of FM with preservation or even increase FFM c)7.34% loss of FFM alone. The main components with a cumulative variance of 94% were only 3 which shows that the analyzed data are statistically highly consistent. The 1st principal component is the FFM correlated closely with BMR, TBW and TBCa, to a lesser extent with Gly, TBK and TBprotein.The 2nd component is AT, FM, AAT with particular relevance to the visceral fat.The 3rd component is the stress with inflammation.ConclusionThe number of parameters provided by the analysis of body composition after appropriate low‐calorie diet, have allowed us to evaluate, also in the presence of a decrease in BMI, the real changes in FM and FFM in relation to all the other variables and the essential role of the preservation of FFM during weight loss.