[Permissible degree of reduction of diet caloricity for obese patients]

A study was made of the effects of diets with varying degree of caloricity reduction at the expense of the decreased content of carbohydrates and fat (1200, 600, 300 kcal and calorie-free "zero" diet) on some indicators of lipid, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism comparatively to the patients' clinical status. A group of patients receiving the diet with a caloricity of 1800 kcal served as control. It was shown that the diet with an average reduction of caloricity (1200 kcal) may be applied to the treatment of obese patients for a long period of time both on in- and outpatient basis. The decrease permissible and such a diet may be indicated for a short period of time (1-1 1/2) months), diets with extremely reduced caloricity (300 kcal, "zero" diet) is not advisable), since such diets exert an adverse action on metabolic processes in the body.