2.4.4. Dietary Intervention
During the baseline period, participants engaged in an individualized nutritional session where the study dietitian provided proper food preparation and selection. Throughout this session, daily energy needs were defined by estimating resting energy expenditure. Subjects were directed to diminish their caloric intake by 500–1000 kcal a day, with the aim of achieving a weight reduction of 10% through a low-calorie diet (LCD). A diet with a daily caloric intake of between 800 and 1200 kcal is referred to as an LCD. The LCD was composed of 30% fat, 15% protein, 55% carbohydrates, and 20–30 g of fiber/day [