Effect of high fibre food mix on lipid profile and body weight in obese subjects. Geetha K, Geetha Yankanchi M*, Netravati Hiremath Department of Foods and Nutrition, All India Coordinated Research Project on Home Science, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, India Abstract The study aimed to assess the efficacy of developed high fibre food mix on the management of obesity. The high fibre food mix was developed by using region specific ingredients. The dietary intervention was carried out on obese rural farm women for a period of 120 days by providing 1/3 rd daily requirement of protein and energy. Impact of food mix was evaluated by assessing somatic and biochemical parameters at pre and post dietary intervention. The developed mix contained protein (15.80 ± 0.32g), fat (2.60 ± 0.12g), energy (320 kcal), carbohydrate (60.75g) and dietary fibre (29.5 ± 0.91g) per 100 g of the mix. Significant reduction in weight (65.34 ± 10.97 kg to 63.23 ± 10.60 kg) leading to reduction in body mass index (27.84 ± 4.14 to 26.95 ± 4.06) and reduction in hip circumference (105.23 ± 9.96 cm to 104.93 ± 9.90 cm) was recorded at P≤0.05 level. Significant decrease in cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and fasting blood sugar was observed from pre to post test. The food based dietary intervention with high protein and dietary fibre showed desirable effects on body weight and biochemical parameters. Hence the inclusion of millets, legumes vegetables and oilseeds in the daily diet enhances the dietary fibre intake and thus helps in management of body weight. Keywords: Obesity, Dietary intervention, Dietary fibre, Body mass index, Lipid profile. Accepted on May 24, 2019 Introduction Obesity is one of the risk factors for morbidity and mortality including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular, osteoarthritis, malignant and metabolic diseases. The imbalance between energy intake and expenditure is the main cause of overweight and obesity. Obesity is defined as weight > 20 per cent above the ideal weight. Body Mass Index (BMI) is an anthropometric index which is calculated by person ’ s weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters (kg/m 2 ) for classifying subjects as overweight and obesity. Person having BMI value 23 to 24.99 are overweight and 25 and above as obese [1]. Approximately 1.5 billion adults are overweight or obese around the world and obesity is being concerned as a global epidemic [2]. Since nineties there has been an increase in over nutrition among women in India [3]. Data from NFHS-4 indicated that around 20.70 per cent of women are over nourished [4]. In India, the increased levels of obesity are primarily associated with the transformation from rural to urban lifestyle. Modern lifestyle associated with easy access to food, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle, calorie dense foods and excessive television viewing contribute to the development of non-communicable diseases. Dietary fibre being one of the essential components of the healthy diet has gained the important physiological and metabolic functions. The properties of fibre make the protective role in management of overweight and obesity. Considering the importance of dietary fibre rich foods, the present study was undertaken to develop and evaluate the efficacy of high fibre food mix for management of overweight and obesity among rural farm women. Materials and Methods Development of millet based mix Millet based high fibre food mix was prepared by using the ingredients viz., finger millet (Eleusine coracana), little millet (Panicum sumatrense), defatted soya (Glycine max) flour, whole green gram (Vigna radiata), fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum), cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), drumstick leaves (Moringa oleifera) and curry leaves (Murraya koinigii ). All the ingredients used for the preparation of mix were procured from local market of Bengaluru. Fresh cluster bean, drumstick leaves and curry leaves were washed thoroughly, blanched for one minute and oven dried and made into flour. Further finger millet, little millet, whole green gram and fenugreek seeds were cleaned and made into flour. Millet based mix was prepared by mixing all the flours and kept airtight for further nutrient analysis and preparation of the product for use. ISSN 0970-938X www.biomedres.info Biomed Res 2019 Volume 30 Issue 4 ฀฀฀ Biomedical Research 2019; 30 (4): 655-658 655