RT Journal
A1 Villareal DT, Banks M, Sinacore DR, Siener C, Klein S
T1 EFfect of weight loss and exercise on frailty in obese older adults
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2006
FD April 24
VO 166
IS 8
SP 860
OP 866
DO 10.1001/archinte.166.8.860
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.8.860
AB Background 
    Obesity exacerbates the age-related decline in physical function and causes frailty in older persons. However, appropriate treatment for obese older persons is unknown. We evaluated the effects of weight loss and exercise therapy on physical function and body composition in obese older persons.Methods 
    We screened 40 obese older volunteers and eventually randomized 27 frail obese older volunteers to treatment or control groups. Treatment consisted of 6 months of weekly behavioral therapy for weight loss in conjunction with exercise training 3 times per week. Physical function was evaluated with measurements of frailty (Physical Performance Test, peak oxygen consumption, and Functional Status Questionnaire); strength, gait, and balance tests; body composition with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; and quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Survey 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Results are reported as mean ± SD.Results 
    Two subjects in the treatment group did not comply with the intervention, and 1 subject in the control group withdrew. Analyses included all 27 subjects originally randomized to the treatment and control groups. The treatment group lost 8.4% ± 5.6% of body weight, whereas weight did not change in the control group (+0.5% ± 2.8%; P<.001). Compared with the control group, fat mass decreased (−6.6 ± 3.4 vs +1.7 ± 4.1 kg; P<.001), without a change in fat-free mass (−1.2 ± 2.1 vs −1.0 ± 3.5 kg; P = .75) in the treatment group. The Physical Performance Test score (2.6 ± 2.5 vs 0.1 ± 1.0; P = .001), peak oxygen consumption (1.7 ± 1.6 vs 0.3 ± 1.1 mL/min per kilogram; P = .02), and Functional Status Questionnaire score (2.9 ± 3.7 vs −0.2 ± 3.9; P = .02) improved in treated subjects compared with control subjects. Treatment also improved strength, walking speed, obstacle course, 1-leg limb stance time, and health survey physical subscale scores (all P<.05).Conclusion 
    These findings suggest that weight loss and exercise can ameliorate frailty in obese older adults.Trial Registration 
    clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00146133