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Nutrition, weight loss interventions needed in mobility-impaired populations
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Strategies to improve nutrition and encourage weight loss among populations with neurologic disabilities are lacking, according to research published in Obesity Reviews.
Interventions are more often targeted toward patients with muscular disorders, leaving a gap in approaches for those facing similar challenges in losing weight through exercise and healthy eating, according to researchers.
“There is an urgent need to not only support healthy young adults in achieving energy balance, but also to support adults with disabling conditions to achieve energy balance and maintain healthy lifestyle habits,” the researchers wrote. “Compared with research on weight loss interventions in the general population, research on weight loss interventions in adults with mobility-impairing neurological and musculoskeletal conditions is still in its formative stage.”
Matthew Plow, PhD, of the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, and colleagues reviewed 914 papers from 1980 to 2013 evaluating obesity clinical trials.
The researchers were especially interested in interventions for multiple sclerosis, stroke, spinal cord injuries, arthritis, lupus, cerebral palsy and spina bifida, according to a news release.
The investigators included 41 studies that identified 27 behavior-changing techniques for weight loss among patients with disabilities. Among the various approaches were self-monitoring, overcoming problems, enhancing communication, managing time and planning specific actions, according to the release.
Of approximately 2,500 patients in the review, 65% were women. Patients were aged at least 18 years, with a mean age of 56.5 years. Only 165 patients had neurologic conditions, and the remaining had musculoskeletal conditions.
The intervention studies generally assessed weight, physical functioning, pain, biomarkers, healthy behaviors, patient-reported mental health, social function and fatigue. The researchers pooled weight loss and other characteristics across studies. Behavior-change techniques were compared and tallied.
Approximately 15 weeks and 28 weeks after the interventions, patients demonstrated an average weight loss of 10 pounds. However, the researchers questioned validity, with attrition rates as high as 25%.
“There is a substantial need to draw upon strategies developed for weight loss interventions in the general public and examine their effectiveness and relevance in adults with mobility-impairing conditions,” the researchers wrote. “Rehabilitation professionals frequently interact with adults with mobility-impairing conditions and thus have many opportunities to not only promote exercise adherence, but also, at the very least, begin the discussion about eating healthy while living with a mobility impairment.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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