Modern Nutritional Approaches to Reducing Excess Body Weight in Clinical Practice. A Literature Review

Relevance. Obesity and related metabolic disorders represent a global contemporary issue. From 1975 to 2016, the number of obese people worldwide more than tripled, reaching 13% of the global adult population (11% of men and 15% of women). In Russia, the number of individuals with excess body weight has remained high over the past 30 years, with a pronounced upward trend. There is a rapid increase in the number of registered cases of obesity-associated diseases. Nutritional correction is a key strategy for the prevention and treatment of obesity and its related comorbidities. Objective. To provide a concise review of diets used for weight loss purposes. Materials and Methods. An initial keyword search in the Pubmed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and e-library databases yielded 34,227 references. The inclusion criteria for the review were full-text articles or monographs in English or Russian, comprising original observational and experimental studies, as well as meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Results and Discussion. Overweight and obesity are the result of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. The excessive functional activity of visceral adipose tissue drives the development of a wide range of complications. The analysis of a patient's health status and the determination of indications for pharmacotherapy or bariatric surgery, using cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy techniques, should involve physicians of various specialties experienced in this field. In the treatment of obesity, measures aimed at normalizing metabolic disturbances are of primary and pathogenetic importance. The pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome is significantly influenced by nutrient deficiencies, particularly of vitamins, macro- and micronutrients, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and other biologically active substances. Therefore, the diet must ensure a high-quality composition of consumed foods (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals) to maintain the necessary level of metabolism. A crucial condition for achieving these goals is dietary diversity. Conclusion. Lifestyle modification recommendations and rational, personalized nutritional correction can help patients achieve positive outcomes in many aspects of their health.