[Ambulatory treatment of obesity with modified fasting (Modifast)]

52 obese subjects, 17 to 65 years old, 42.5 +/- 23.37 percent mean body weight excess, were treated with a very low-calorie diet (1020 KJ = 240 Kcal/day), containing whole egg protein (g 33), disaccharides (g 25.5), vitamins and minerals (Modifast). The diet was well tolerated by all subjects, without important side effects, and the following significant mean weight losses were registered: -kg 3.4 +/- 1.1 after 1 week (52 subjects); -kg 5.4 +/- 1.4 after 2 weeks (38 subjects); -kg 8.7 +/- 1.4 after 4 weeks (20 subjects); -kg 11.8 +/- 1.6 after 6 weeks (7 subjects); -kg 17.3 +/- 0.8 after 10 weeks (2 subjects); -kg 20.4 after 13 weeks of treatment (1 subjects). A significant reduction of plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides were detected at the end of the dietary treatment, in contrast plasma uric acid concentration rose significantly but within the normal limits. Modified fasting with protein-carbohydrate supplementation (Modifast) may be successfully and safely prescribed also to obese out-patients, provided a careful patient selection, a weekly clinical and biochemical examination and a daily potassium supplementation (20-30 mMol) are performed.