Si-Hoon Park and Kyung Won Shim All data are expressed as means± SD. Changes in AIx-NTG, AIx-Salb and all other param- eters versus weight reduction were analyzed using a paired t-test. To identify parameters af- fecting (AIx-Salb, a multiple linear regression model was constructed using the step-wise method, after adjusting for BMI with (AIx-Salb as the dependent variable. hsCRP was log trans- formed to achieve a normal distribution. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05 (two-tailed). Statistical calculations were performed using the SAS system for Windows (version 8.0, SAS Inc. Raleigh, NC, USA). RESULTS Anthropometric and clinico-metabolic responses to weight reduction After 12 weeks of the diet and exercise pro- gram, all subjects were re-evaluated. The average weight reduction was 7.96 ± 3.47 kg (11% of base- line), with losses of 5.29±2.59 kg (13% of baseline) in fat mass (p<0.001) and a marked reduction in BMI and waist circumferences. The visceral and subcutaneous fat areas were reduced by 21.88 ± 20.39 cm2 and 49.01 ± 53.76 cm2, respectively (p < 0.001). Diastolic pressure was slightly reduced, without a significant change in systolic pressure. The levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were all reduced after weight reduction, but the serum HDL cholesterol level did not show an increase following weight reduc- tion. Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA scores, and hsCRP levels were lower following weight reduction, while estradiol levels increased (Table 1). Vascular reactivity and hemodynamic changes by weight reduction. Baseline heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and baseline AIx were not significantly changed by weight reduction. Table 1. General Characteristics Before and After Weight Reduction Variables (BNef=o3r6e) weight reduction After weight reduction (N=36) Weight (kg) BMI (kg/m2) Waist circumference (cm) Percent body fat (%) Abdominal adipose tissue area (cm2) Subcutaneous Visceral SBP (mmHg) DBP (mmHg) Cholesterol (mg/dL) LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) Triglyceride (mg/dL) Fasting glucose (mg/dL) Fasting insulin (μIU/mL) HOMA score NEFA (μEq/L) hsCRP* (mg/dL) Estradiol (pg/mL) Yonsei Med J Vol. 46, No. 4, 2005 *hsCRP was logarithmically transformed before analysis and is presented as median ± interquartile difference. Values are mean ± SD. SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; LDL, low-density ipoprotein; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HOMA score, homeostasis model assessment score; NEFA, non-esterified free fatty acid; hsCRP, high-sensitive C-reactive protein. 74.32 ± 12.04 29.48 ± 4.39 90.46 ± 1.72 38.54 ± 4.39 331.05 ± 107.10 97.17 ± 39.87 119.67 ± 9.89 72.03 ± 6.21 197.03 ± 25.61 95.00 ± 18.32 53.53 ± 9.25 100.78 ± 35.70 96.58 ± 7.41 12.55 ± 17.31 3.13 ± 4.63 487.03 ± 247.56 0.25 ± 0.41 64.17 ± 27.76 66.36 ± 10.04 26.29 ± 3.67 83.47 ± 1.45 35.05 ± 4.23 282.04 ± 81.66 75.29 ± 32.27 122.53 ± 8.38 70.94 ± 6.59 176.69 ± 26.44 85.03 ± 15.32 54.67 ± 11.11 85.00 ± 40.76 91.58 ± 7.41 6.67 ± 5.22 1.53 ± 1.24 402.00 ± 207.91 0.19 ± 0.36 91.19 ± 41.72 p-value <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 0.115 0.016 <0.001 <0.001 0.393 0.030 0.007 0.002 0.030 0.076 <0.001 0.002