Sustained Visceral Fat Reduction with Muscle Preservation in Obesity Management Using Intensive Lifestyle Modification and Meal Replacement: A 4-Year Follow-up Case Report

Author's Information:

Nawinda Vanichakulthada

College of Medicineand Public Health,Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand

Sunaree Pitchaiprasert

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, SurinHospital, Thailand

RasintraJaroenying

Independent Researcher

Sumalee Hantragool

Independent Researcher

Chutima Samhugkanee

Independent Researcher

Vol 06 No 01 (2026):Volume 06 Issue 01 January 2026

Page No.: 09-14

Abstract:

Background: Obesitypresents a globalhealth challenge, yet sustained weightloss with favorable body composition remains difficult. This case demonstrates the efficacy of intensive lifestyle modification (ILM) combined with meal replacement (MR) in achieving significant, sustainable weight loss over 4 years.

CasePresentation: A 52-year-old Thai female with severe obesity(BMI 44.1 kg/m², weight 102 kg, height 152 cm) enrolled in an ILM+MR program including: (1) soy- based meal replacement twice daily for 8 weeks, (2) nutritional counseling, (3) structured physical activity, and (4) behavioral modification through group therapy.

Results: At 8 weeks: weight 86 kg (15.7% reduction), BMI 37.2 kg/m², waist 42 inches (6-inchreduction), fat mass decreased 8.2%,muscle mass increased 2.1%, visceral fat level reduced from 30 to 24. At 1 year: weight 70 kg (31.4% reduction), BMI 30.2 kg/m², demonstrating progression from Class III to Class I obesity. At 2 years: weight 59 kg (42.2% reduction), BMI 25.5 kg/m² (overweight category). At 3

years: weight 58 kg (43.1% reduction), BMI 25.1 kg/m². At 4 years: weight 53 kg (48.0% sustained reduction), BMI 22.9 kg/m² (normal weight), with exceptional body composition showing 29.5% body fat, 26.8% musclemass, and visceralfat level of 6.

Conclusion: Intensive lifestyle modification with meal replacement achieved remarkable weight loss of 48.0% maintained over 4 years with exceptional body composition changes. This case demonstrates extraordinary long-term efficacyin a patient with severe obesity, achieving and maintaining normal BMI with sustained improvements in metabolic health markers.

KeyWords:

Obesity, Severe Obesity, Weight Loss, Intensive Lifestyle Modification, Meal Replacement, Body Composition, Long-term Follow-up, Visceral Fat, Case Report

References:

  1. World HealthOrganization. Obesity and overweight. WHO Fact Sheet.2023.
  2. Aekplakorn W, et al. Prevalence and trends of obesity in Thai adults.J Obes. 2014;2014:410259.
  3. Guh DP, et al. The incidence of co-morbidities relatedto obesity. BMC Public Health. 2009;9:88.
  4. Luppino FS, et al. Overweight, obesity,and depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010;67(3):220-229.
  5. Mann T, et al. Medicare's searchfor effective obesitytreatments. Am Psychol. 2007;62(3):220-233.
  6. Jensen MD, et al. 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS guideline for management of overweight and obesity. Circulation. 2014;129(25 Suppl 2):S102-138.
  7. Look AHEAD Research Group. Eight-year weightlosses with intensivelifestyle intervention. Obesity. 2014;22(1):5-13.
  8. Heymsfield SB, et al. Weight management using meal replacement strategy. Int J Obes. 2003;27(5):537-549.
  9. Dombrowski SU, et al. Long term maintenance of weight loss.BMJ. 2014;348:g2646.
  10. Courcoulas AP, et al. Seven-year weight trajectories and health outcomesin the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS) Study. JAMA Surg. 2018;153(5):427-434.
  11. Chaston TB, et al. Changes in fat-free mass during weight loss. Int J Obes. 2007;31(5):743-750.
  12. Cava E, et al. Preserving healthymuscle during weightloss. Adv Nutr. 2017;8(3):511-519.
  13. Després JP, Lemieux I. Abdominal obesityand metabolic syndrome.Nature. 2006;444(7121):881-887.
  14. Neeland IJ, et al. Visceral and ectopic fat, atherosclerosis, and cardiometabolic disease. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2019;7(9):715-725.
  15. Smith SR, Zachwieja JJ. Visceral adiposetissue intervention strategies. Int J Obes. 1999;23(4):329-335.
  16. Ross R, et al. Waist circumference as a vitalsign in clinical practice. Circulation. 2020;142(18):e127-e143.
  17. Astbury NM, et al. Systematic review of meal replacements for weight loss. Obes Rev. 2019;20(4):569-587.
  18. Wadden TA, et al. Behavioral treatment of obesity in primary care.JAMA. 2014;312(17):1779-1791.
  19. Lean MEJ, et al. Primary care-ledweight management for type 2 diabetes. Lancet. 2018;391(10120):541-551.
  20. Vanichakulthada N, Pitchaiprasert S, Jaroenying R, Hantragool S, Samhugkanee C. Efficacy of IntensiveLifestyle Modification with Meal Replacement for Sustainable Weight Loss and Improved Body Composition in Obese Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Open Access Journal of Clinical Pathology Research. 2025.