One-Year Weight Loss Following a Remote Culinary Medicine Program: A Bi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Preventive Medicine
• Obesity Research

Background:

• Culinary medicine (CM) is an innovative, evidence-based nutrition strategy to enhance dietary quality and manage chronic diseases.
• Well-designed studies on the long-term effects of CM on dietary intake and obesity are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a culinary medicine intervention on body weight and related health outcomes.
• To assess the long-term effectiveness of CM in a population with overweight and obesity.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 50 participants (age 25-70, BMI 27.5-35 kg/m²).
• Intervention group received dietary counseling and twelve 30-minute CM sessions.
• Control group received dietary counseling and CM resources. Measurements taken at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• The CM intervention group achieved significant weight loss at 3, 6, and 12 months (net differences: -2.52%, -2.98%, -4.30% respectively).
• Significant reductions in body fat mass and calorie consumption were observed at 6 months.
• Improvements in Mediterranean diet scores were noted at 3 months.

Conclusions:

• Culinary medicine is an effective strategy for promoting weight and body fat loss.
• CM interventions show promise for improving dietary habits and managing obesity.