BIOMARKERS FOR PREDICTING DEGREE OF WEIGHT LOSS IN MALE SUBJECTS

1 . A method for predicting the degree of weight loss in a male subject attainable by applying one or more dietary interventions to a subject, said method comprising:

determining the level of one or more biomarkers in one or more samples obtained from the subject, wherein the biomarkers are selected from sex hormone-binding globulin, beta-2-microglobulin and serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises determining the level of sex hormone-binding globulin in one or more samples.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises determining the level of beta-2-microglobulin or serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 in one or more samples.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the method comprises determining the level of sex hormone-binding globulin, beta-2-microglobulin and serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 in one or more samples.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein levels of each of sex hormone-binding globulin, beta-2-microglobulin and serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 are determined, and decreased levels of beta-2-microglobulin and increased levels of sex hormone-binding globulin and serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 in the sample is indicative of a greater degree of weight loss in the subject.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more samples are derived from blood.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the dietary intervention is a low calorie diet.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the low calorie diet comprises a calorie intake of about 600 to about 1200 kcal/day.

9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the low calorie diet comprises administration of at least one diet product.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the low calorie diet has a duration of 6 to 12 weeks.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises combining the level of the one or more biomarkers with one or more anthropometric measures and/or lifestyle characteristics of the subject.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the anthropometric measures include age and body mass index.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the degree of weight loss is represented by the body mass index that a subject is predicted to attain by applying a dietary intervention.

14 . A method for optimizing one or more dietary interventions for a male subject comprising:

predicting the degree of weight loss attainable by the subject according to a method as defined in claim 1 ; and

applying the dietary intervention to the subject.

15 . A method for predicting the body mass index that a male subject would be expected to attain from a dietary intervention (BMI2), wherein the method comprises:

a. determining the level of sex hormone-binding globulin, beta-2-microglobulin and serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 in one or more samples obtained from the subject; and

b. predicting BMI2 using formula (1):

bmi2 i =c 1*bmi1 i +c 2*age i −c 3*sex hormone-binding globulin i +c 4*beta-2-microglobulin i −c 5*Serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1 i ;  (1)

wherein BMI1 is the subject's body mass index before the dietary intervention and BMI2 is the subject's predicted body mass index after the dietary intervention; and

wherein c1, c2, c3, c4 and c5 are positive integers.

16 . A method for selecting a modification of lifestyle of a subject, the method comprising:

a. performing a method as described in claim 1 ; and

b. selecting a suitable modification in lifestyle based upon the degree of weight loss predicted in step (a).

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the modification of lifestyle in the subject comprises a dietary intervention.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the dietary intervention is a low calorie diet.

19 . A diet product for use as part of a low calorie diet for weight loss, wherein the diet product is administered to a male subject that is predicted to attain a degree of weight loss by the method of claim 1 .

20 . A diet product for use in treating obesity or an obesity-related disorder, wherein the diet product is administered to a male subject that is predicted to attain a degree of weight loss by the method of claim 1 .

21 . Use of a diet product in a low calorie diet for weight loss wherein the diet product is administered to a male subject that is predicted to attain a degree of weight loss by the method of claim 1 .

22 . A computer program product comprising computer implementable instructions for causing a programmable computer to perform the method of claim 1 .

23 . A computer program product comprising computer implementable instructions for causing a programmable computer to predict the degree of weight loss in a male subject given the levels of one or more biomarkers from the user, wherein the biomarkers are selected from sex hormone-binding globulin, beta-2-microglobulin and serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1.

24 . The product according to claim 23 , wherein the computer program product is further given anthropometric measures and/or lifestyle characteristics from the user.

25 . The product according to claim 24 , wherein anthropometric measures include age and body mass index.

26 . A kit for predicting the degree of weight loss attainable by a male subject following a dietary intervention, wherein said kit comprises two or more of:

a. an antibody specific for sex hormone-binding globulin;

b. an antibody specific for beta-2-microglobulin; and

c. an antibody specific for serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1.

27 . A kit according to claim 26 comprising

a. an antibody specific for sex hormone-binding globulin;

b. an antibody specific for beta-2-microglobulin; and

c. an antibody specific for serum paraoxonase/arylesterase 1.