Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Standard and Innovative Products That Represent a Substitute Meal for Weight Management in a Reduction Diet

In the last few decades, there has been an increase in the number of obese people to the level of a global epidemic as a result of inadequate diet, sedentary lifestyle, but also genetic predispositions. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared obesity to be the biggest, global, chronic health problem in adults, that is increasingly becoming a more serious problem than malnutrition.On the other hand, obesity is a risk factor for the development of contemporary non-infectious diseases today that account for more than 80% of mortality in developed countries, such as vascular disease, diabetes and respiratory diseases such as asthma.

This trend is also recorded in Croatia, both in adult population and in children if the data from 2003 and 2015 are being compared, while according to data from 2019, almost two thirds of the adult population in Croatia were overweight or obese (42% overweight, 23% obese).

In cooperation with Podravka, Belupo has developed a standard and innovative product line. Products are replacing one or more one or more daily meals, and thay must comply with Regulation 2016/1413 requirements related to energy value, content and composition of fats and proteins, the amount of vitamins and minerals in this type of products.

The standard product line contains common ingredients and this type of product already exists on world markets, while the innovative product line differs from the standard one by implementing raw materials that are considered better sources of potentially bioactive components.

The study for a group of adult participants was designed in such a way that the participants in the initial stage follow a low-calorie diet of about 1000 - 1100 kcal, whereby 5 daily meals are replaced with meal replacements in the reduction diet (active group and active control) (intensive stage). In subsequent stages, subjects gradually increase their energy intake and gradually substitute meal replacement product (MRP) with regular nutritionally profiled meals (active stage and maintenance stage). The final (stable) stage represents the stage in which, in addition to one meal replacement per day, the usual meals designed by the nutritionists of Belupo and the Culinary Center of Podravka are consumed, where education and nutrition counseling is also carried out.

Study entry stage (0-2 weeks): subjects are recruited respecting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Recruitment is carried out by a doctor. During this stage, subjects replace standard meals with meal replacement products and reduce energy intake to a final defined intake depending on the group of subjects.

36 participants in a ratio of 1:1:1

• active group - 12
• active control (positive control group) - 12
• control group (negative control group) - 12

The daily energy intake is defined at around 1000-1100 kcal per day, and counseling on nutrition and physical activity is carried out.

1. Intensive stage (2-14 weeks) about 1000 - 1100 kcal/day 5 MRP (200-220 kcal per product) + 1 salad (20 kcal per portion) + water/unsweetened tea.
2. Active stage (14-21 weeks) 1100-1200 kcal/day 3 MRP (200-220 kcal per meal) + 2 regular meals (200-280 kcal) + water/unsweetened tea.
3. Maintenance stage (21-28 weeks): 1200-1500 kcal/day 2 MRP (200-220 kcal per meal) + 3 regular meals (260-350 kcal) + water/unsweetened tea
4. Stable stage (28-40 weeks): 1500-2000 kcal 1 MRP (200-220 kcal per meal) + 4 regular meals (approx. 320-450 kcal) + water/unsweetened tea Usual meals can also contain snacks with lower energy values, but it is important to consume approx. 1300-1800 kcal per day with usual foods.