June 25, 2007 (Insidermedicine) Obese people who limit their meal portion size by using specially marked dishes may be successful at losing weight, according to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Obesity has become a worldwide problem. Between 1960 and 2000, the proportion of American adults who were obese more than doubled, with more than 30% of the population now obese. Most cases of type 2 diabetes, which can cause heart disease, blindness, kidney damage, and amputation, can be attributed directly to obesity. 

It is known that portion sizes alone contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity, as the number of calories eaten has been directly linked with the serving size offered. In a study to evaluate the effectiveness of portion-control dishes, 130 obese people with diabetes were randomly assigned either the specially designed dishes or ordinary dishes in conjunction with care from a dietician. The portion control dishes were divided into sections, which totaled approximately an 800-calorie meal for men and a 650-calorie meal for women.

At the end of the six-month follow-up, the proportion of patients who achieved at least 5% weight loss in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group receiving usual care. This is important, as a 5% weight loss has been shown to be significant in terms of decreasing illness and death associated with obesity-linked disorders such as cancer and heart attack. In addition, the patients using the portion-control dishes experienced a significantly greater decrease in their use of diabetes mediations after six months.

The study demonstrates that the portion control dishes, which are a simple and inexpensive tool, are effective in helping obese patients lose weight as well as reduce reliance on diabetes medications.

Reporting for Insidermedicine, I’m Dr. Susan Sharma.