Low GI Diet Impact on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Obese Chinese Adults

Obesity affects nearly 30% of adults in Hong Kong, leading to serious health issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. One dietary approach that has shown promise in managing weight is the low Glycemic Index (GI) diet. However, most studies on low GI diets have been conducted in Western populations, leaving a gap in understanding its effects on Chinese adults. This study aims to explore the impact and acceptability of a low GI diet compared to a conventional healthy diet on the Body Mass Index (BMI) and other heart-related risk factors in obese Chinese adults living in Hong Kong. The study is designed as a two-arm randomized controlled trial. Participants in the intervention group will receive education on a low GI diet, including a 60-minute face-to-face session with a research nurse and an informational booklet. This will be followed by three 15-minute phone calls at the 2nd, 5th, and 8th weeks. The control group will receive educational pamphlets on obesity and balanced diets, also followed by three 15-minute phone calls at the same intervals. At the start and end of the 12-week period, data on BMI, waist circumference, body fat, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and other related factors will be collected to measure the effects of the diet.