Effects of Exercise and Weight Loss Diet and Lifestyle Change on Anthropometric Measurements, Family Dynamics and Quality of Life

Aim: To examine the effects of exercise and weight loss diet onphysical health, psychosocial well-being, and family dynamics.Material and Method: Changes in body composition andpsychosocial effects were analyzed in two married coupleswithout chronic diseases who followed a personalized dietand exercise program for 12 weeks. Family dynamics wereassessed through semi-structured interviews, liver steatosiswas evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging, andquality of life was measured using a researcher-developedform. Additionally, the impact of family interaction andsupport mechanisms on the process was analyzed based onparticipants’ feedback.Results: Significant decreases in body weight (p<0.05) andbody mass index (p<0.05) were found. In addition, there wasa statistically significant improvement in the waist/hip ratio(p<0.05), which is an indicator of central adiposity. Whenbiochemical findings were analyzed, decreases in triglyceride(p>0.05) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p>0.05) levelswere observed, and these changes were evaluated as positivein terms of cardiovascular health in obesity management.Decreases in alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase levels indicate the effect of body weight loss onliver health. A significant increase in 25-hydroxy vitamin Dlevels was observed, which was thought to be associatedwith increased sun exposure through walking exercise.Reductions in parameters related to liver steatosis werenoted but did not reach statistical significance. Participantsreported that the process positively impacted physical health,family communication, and support mechanisms, withspousal motivation and support playing a key role in programsustainability.Conclusion: Exercise and dietary interventions positivelyimpact both physical and psychosocial health, shaping familydynamics in the process. To evaluate the long-term sustainabilityof couple support mechanisms, larger randomized controlledtrials with 6–12 month follow-ups are recommended.