Effects of basic traditional Chinese diet on body mass index, lean body mass, and eating and hunger behaviours in overweight or obese individuals.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of a basic traditional Chinese diet with a Western standard diet on body mass index (BMI), lean body mass (LBD), and eating and hunger behaviours.

METHODS: A sample of 284 patients were randomized into 2 groups: group A (n = 142) followed a basic traditional Chinese diet (BCTD) and group B (n = 142) followed a Western standard diet (WSD). Both diets were set at approximately 1200 calories. The patients enrolled were compared before treatment and 6 weeks after treatment, and then follow-ups were made at 1 year and 5 years.

RESULTS: In the BCTD group, BMI decreased by 0.46 kg/m2 and LBM by 0.25 kg, versus respectively 0.28 kg/m2 and 0.41 kg in the WSD group. Findings of eating self-assessment, hunger measurement and psychophysical indices of health were also in favour of the BCTD.

CONCLUSION: Outcomes show that the BCTD has a better effect on BMI and LBM, as well as over the medium/long term, and provides stronger psychophysical support to obese patients.