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Long-term maintenance of weight loss after lifestyle intervention in frail, obese older adults

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

To determine if long-term weight loss with associated improvement in physical and metabolic health can be maintained after lifestyle intervention in frail, obese older adults.

Design

Thirty-month follow-up pilot study of a 1-year lifestyle intervention trial.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Sixteen frail, obese (body mass index=36±2 kg/m2) older (71±1 yr.) adults.

Measurements

Body weight and composition, physical function, markers of the metabolic syndrome, glucose and insulin response to an oral glucose tolerance test, bone mineral density (BMD), liver and renal function tests, and food diaries.

Results

At 30-month follow-up, weight (101.5±3.8 vs. 94.5±3.9 kg) and BMI (36.0 ±1.7 vs. 33.5±1.7 kg/m2) remained significantly below baseline (all p<0.05). No significant change in fat-free mass (56.7±2.1 vs. 56.9±2.2 kg) or appendicular lean mass (24.1±1.0 vs. 24.1±1.1kg, all p>0.05) occurred between 12 months (end of trial) and 30 months. Improvements in the physical performance test (PPT 27±0.7 vs. 30.2±0.6), insulin sensitivity (4.1±0.8 vs. 3.0±0.6), and insulin area under the curve (12484±2042 vs. 9270±1139 min.mg/dl) remained at 30 months compared to baseline (all p<0.05). Waist circumference (116±3 vs. 109±3 cm) and systolic blood pressure (134±6 vs. 123±5 mm HG) remained decreased at 30 months compared to baseline (all p<0.05). Whole body and lumbar spine BMD did not change; however, total hip BMD progressively decreased at 30 months compared to baseline (0.985±.026 vs. 0.941±.024 g/cm2; p<0.05). There were no adverse effects on liver or renal function. Food frequency questionnaire data showed lower overall caloric intake (−619±157 kcal/day) at 30 months compared to baseline (p<0.05).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that long-term maintenance of clinically important weight loss is possible in frail, obese older adults. Weight maintenance appears to be achieved through continued caloric restriction. Larger, long-term studies are needed to follow up on these findings and investigate mechanisms and behaviors underlying maintenance of weight loss and physical function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New Mexico VA Health Care System, Section of Geriatrics, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87108, USA

    D. L. Waters, R. Vawter, R. Armamento-Villareal & Dennis T. Villareal

  2. Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin School of Medicine, Dunedin, New Zealand, 9054

    D. L. Waters

  3. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, USA

    C. Qualls

  4. Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, 63108, USA

    S. Chode & Dennis T. Villareal

  5. Division of Endocrinology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, USA

    R. Armamento-Villareal

  6. Division of Geriatrics, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, USA

    Dennis T. Villareal

  7. Section of Geriatrics, New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87108, USA

    Dennis T. Villareal

Authors
  1. D. L. Waters
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  2. R. Vawter
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  3. C. Qualls
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  4. S. Chode
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Correspondence to Dennis T. Villareal.

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Waters, D.L., Vawter, R., Qualls, C. et al. Long-term maintenance of weight loss after lifestyle intervention in frail, obese older adults. J Nutr Health Aging 17, 3–7 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-012-0421-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-012-0421-5

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