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Physical function improves with weight loss plus aerobic, resistance exercise
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Physical Performance Test scores, peak oxygen consumption and body weight were all improved with weight loss plus combined aerobic and resistance exercise in older adults with obesity, according to findings published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Dennis T. Villareal, MD, professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and staff physician at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, and colleagues evaluated data on older adults (mean age, 70 years) with obesity (mean BMI 30 kg/m2) randomly assigned to aerobic exercise and a weight-management program (n = 40; aerobic group); resistance exercise and a weight-management program (n = 40; resistance group); aerobic exercise, resistance exercise and a weight-management program (n = 40; combination group); or no exercise or weight-management program (n = 40; control group) to determine the effect of each on physical function and weight loss.
Outcomes included change in the Physical Performance Test score from baseline to 6 months and changes in other frailty measures, body composition, BMD and physical functions.
The combination group had greater increases in Physical Performance Test scores (27.9 to 33.4 points; 21% increase from the least-squares adjusted mean at baseline) compared with the aerobic group (29.3 to 33.2 points; 14% increase) and the resistance group (28.8 to 32.7 points; 14% increase). All three exercise groups had higher Physical Performance Test scores compared with the control group.
Peak oxygen consumption increased more in the combination group (17.2 to 20.3 mL/kg of body weight per minute; 17% increase) and aerobic group (17.6 to 20.9 mL/kg of body weight per minute; 18% increase) compared with the resistance group (17 to 18.3 mL/kg of body weight per minute; 8% increase).
Body weight decreased by 9% in all exercise groups, whereas there was no significant change in the control group (< 1%).
The aerobic group and combination group had decreases in BMD at the total hip, whereas there were no significant changes in the resistance group. None of the study groups had significant changes in BMD of the whole body or lumbar spine.
“It is never too late in life to change unhealthy lifestyles to healthy lifestyles by means of diet and regular exercise, with the exercise consisting of a combination of aerobic and resistance training to maximize benefits on physical function, prevent and/or delay loss of functional independence and preserve quality of life,” Villareal told Endocrine Today. “[The clinical implications of the findings are] to improve functional status and maintain quality of life. Obese seniors should be encouraged to practice healthy lifestyle through moderate weight loss by dietary restriction and increase physical activity using a combination of regular aerobic and resistance exercise.” – by Amber Cox
For more information:
Dennis T. Villareal, MD, can be reached at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Ave., Building 110, Room 264, Houston, TX 77030.
Disclosure: Villareal reports receiving a grant from the NIH during the conduct of the study. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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