Changes in Weight or Body Composition by Frailty Status: A Pilot Study.

Academic Article

Abstract

  • Weight loss may benefit older adults with obesity. However, it is unknown whether individuals with different frailty phenotypes have different outcomes following weight loss. Community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 (n = 53) with a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 were recruited for a six-month, single-arm, technology-based weight loss study. A 45-item frailty index identified frailty status using subjective and objective measures from a baseline geriatric assessment. At baseline, n = 22 participants were classified as pre-frail (41.5%) and n = 31 were frail (58.5%), with no differences in demographic characteristics. While weight decreased significantly in both groups (pre-frail: 90.8 ± 2.7 kg to 85.5 ± 2.4 kg (p < 0.001); frail: 102.7 ± 3.4 kg to 98.5 ± 3.3 kg (p < 0.001), no differences were observed between groups for changes in weight (p = 0.30), appendicular lean mass/height2 (p = 0.47), or fat-free mass (p = 0.06). Older adults with obesity can safely lose weight irrespective of frailty status using a technology-based approach. Further investigation is needed to determine whether the impact of specific lifestyle interventions differ by frailty status.
  • Authors

  • Spangler, Hillary B
  • Lynch, David H
  • Gross, Danae C
  • Cook, Summer
  • Batsis, John A
  • Status

    Publication Date

  • 2024
  • Keywords

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Body Composition
  • Body Mass Index
  • Body Weight
  • Female
  • Frail Elderly
  • Frailty
  • Geriatric Assessment
  • Humans
  • Independent Living
  • Male
  • Obesity
  • Pilot Projects
  • Weight Loss
  • obesity
  • technology
  • weight loss
  • Digital Object Identifier (doi)

    Start Page

  • 83
  • End Page

  • 94
  • Volume

  • 43
  • Issue

  • 2