Objective: To reduce body weight in obese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) without loss of body cell mass (BCM) and without impairment of physical performance.
Methods: Nineteen overweight RA patients were studied before, during, and after a 12-week weight reducing regime consisting of reduced dietary energy intake, supplemented with a high-protein-low-energy powder preparation, and moderate physical training. Body composition was measured by a four compartment method, which by combining determinations of total body water and total body potassium allows a distinction between the two variable components of fat free mass (FFM): BCM and extracellular water (ECW). Physical fitness was measured by a bicycle exercise test.
Results: Mean weight loss during the study was 4.5 kg. The patients lost 9% of their initial fat mass, 3% of initial BCM and 5% of initial ECW. Physical fitness was slightly, but significantly, improved.
Conclusion: The regime described was successful in achieving a significant weight loss with minimal loss of BCM and maintenance of physical fitness.