Effects of a Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension Eating Plan on Body Mass Index in Patients having Metabolic Syndrome at Kasr Al-Ainy Outpatient Clinic

Background: Diet is an important lifestyle component able to influence the development of chronic diseases. The studies done on the beneficial effects of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet on Body Mass Index (BMI) in patient having metabolic syndrome (MetS) are limited.Objectives: To determine the effects of The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) versus Usual Dietary Advice (UDA) on Body Mass Index (BMI) in adult patients having MetS.Methodology: A prospective interventional controlled study conducted on 120 adults diagnosed with MetS using the NCEP/ATPIII. The participants randomly assigned to follow either DASH or UDA for 12 weeks.Results: DASH and UDA significantly improve weight and BMI in the patient having MetS, but the percent changes due to DASH diet for weight and BMI were 5.8 and 5.6% respectively, while due to UDA were 3.3 and 3.4% respectively.Conclusion: Weight reduction deserves first priority in obese people having Mets. DASH diet is an ideal and flexible diet that can be considered as a healthy weight losing dietary pattern in patients having MetS.