Beneficial Effects of Dietary and Lifestyle Change in Overweight and Obese Subjects

Obesity and overweight are noncommunicable diseases with increasing incidence in children, adolescents and adults. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults aged 18 and over were overweight and over 650 million were obese (WHO). In the EU-27 (Eurostat data), 45.7% of women and 60.2% of men were overweight, while 16.3% and 16.8%, respectively, were obese. The growing incidence of overweight and obesity generate worldwide increasing incidence of related conditions as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, metabolic disorders, and cancer, with relevant socio-economical (increase in health costs, increase in disabilities) and environmental consequences (unsustainability of food models, increase in ecological footprint, worsening of climate changes). A transformation of food systems and individual behaviours are necessary to improve the quality of life and the sustainability of lifestyle, which should be oriented at preventing o treating overweight and obesity.

The study is aimed to measure the beneficial effects of specific dietary models (i.e., Mediterranean Diet) and healthy lifestyle (i.e., controlled physical activity) in reducing body/organ fat accumulation and in the improvement of metabolic health. A comprehensive and combined analysis of these effects (mainly following personalized strategies and close follow-up) on pathogenic mechanisms affecting cardiovascular and metabolic risk, pro-inflammatory status and intestinal permeability in the medium-long term is still lacking. During the study, overweight/obese subjects (i.e. Body Mass Index equal or higher to 25Kg/m2) will be assessed at basal and monitored during a 24 months follow-up