Weight Control and Medical Nutrition Therapy

In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared, “obesity is the fastest growing cause of preventable death in the nation, soon to overtake tobacco as the leading cause”²². Obesity, particularly abdominal adiposity, contributes to many chronic conditions and disease statistics, including pre-diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, musculoskeletal disorders, premature death, psychological and social problems and is a significant contributor to growing U.S. annual healthcare expenditures²³.

Despite billions of dollars spent annually or weight control in this country alone, the recidivism rate for weight regain remains alarmingly high. Thousands of weight loss products exist, from quick fix/fad types with little or no record of success to programs that involve multi-disciplinary intervention and individualized lifestyle change, incorporating diet, exercise, behavior change and increasingly pharmacology, with varying degrees of success. Bariatric surgery is a viable option for those individuals with clinically severe obesity (see Bariatric Surgery & Medical Nutrition Therapy for additional information).

Interest in the role of dietary protein in weight loss has produced short term studies reporting increased satiety, increased thermogenesis, sparing of muscle protein loss and improved glycemic control, in addition to weight loss²⁴. It is thought that weight loss involving dairy protein (including calcium, Vitamin D and the amount and source of protein, including whey protein) is a result of body fat loss, probably through lipid (fat) and energy (calorie) metabolism²⁵.

Added benefits of whey protein in the area of weight management include increased satiety (feeling of fullness), which can lead to a decrease in dietary intake and weight loss, as part of a comprehensive weight management program. Whey protein provides complete, high quality protein, naturally low in fat and can be substituted for higher animal fat proteins in the diet, thus decreasing caloric intake, promoting weight loss and reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

WHY USE PROTEEM™ WHEY PROTEIN FOR YOUR WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM?

Proteem™ Whey Protein provides:

• High quality, complete protein, all 9 essential amino acids
• Whey protein, as part of dairy protein that research shows helps facilitate (improved) weight loss²⁶
• Low in total calories, carbohydrates, fat and cholesterol²⁷
• Versatile – can be made into a high protein shake that can be used as a meal replacement or between meal snack, can also be added to foods to increase the protein content
• Good tasting, preferred by VNA patients to Ensure/Boost/Carnation Instant Breakfast/Glucerna/Proatat 64²⁸
• Mixes well, no clumping

Improved Patient Outcomes using Proteem™ Whey Protein for Weight Management:

• Helps preserve lean body mass and maximize weight loss primarily through fat loss
• More consistent weight loss through greater compliance secondary to high satiety value of protein, product versatility and taste preference
• Helps reduce excess fat, obesity being a major risk factor in chronic disease

[ 22 ] Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Vol. 32 No. 6:386-392, Nov/Dec 2005
[ 23 ] Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing Vol. 32 No. 6:386-392, Nov/Dec 2005
[ 24 ] http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/134/4/9685
[ 25 ] http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/135/12/2749
[ 26 ] The American Society of Nutrition Services, Journal of Nutrition 134:9687-9735, April 2004
[ 27 ] 100 calories, 3 grams of total carbohydrates and 105 grams of total fat in 4 scoop serving (4 scoops = 28 grams)
[ 28 ] Feedback from VNA patients using Proteem™, 2005-2006