The Role of Obesity Centers in the Fight Against Obesity: The Case of Antalya Province

Abstract

First admission and last control anthropometric measurements of 281 patients and first follow-up and 6 th or 12 th months control blood tests of 106 patients (the last test and concurrent measurements were evaluated), during which fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were compared. Results: Of all the patients included in the study, 260 (92.5%) were female and 21 were male (7.5%). The mean age was 52.05 ± 9.52 (21-73) years. The mean follow-up period was estimated to be 161.1 ± 82.97 (11-365) days. Median weight and body mass index of all patients (281 patients) were found to have decreased from 93.4 (68.5-152.6) kg to 83.7 (59.3-138) kg, and from 36.9 (30-65.2) kg/m 2 to 32.6 (24.68-58.9) kg/m 2 (p<0.001), respectively. Similarly, a statistically significant decrease was observed in the waist and hip circumference of the patients (p <0.001). Apart from this, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, insulin resistance (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (p=0.014), and triglyceride (p=0.007) levels of 106 patients who had control blood tests also showed a significant decrease, as opposed to a significant increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p<0.001). Another statistical significance was the decrease in the body mass index (p<0.001), waist circumference (p <0.001), hip circumference (p <0.001), waist/hip ratio (p<0.001) as well as in the glycosylated hemoglobin (p=0.043) according to the weight loss ratio of the patients. Conclusion: Achieved only through adopting the right lifestyle, the positive effect of weight loss is observed on endocrine and metabolic markers such as blood pressure, blood sugar and lipid parameters. Obesity centers provide patients a healthy, reliable, cost-effective and sustainable treatment opportunity, especially for those who can fully comply with the program.