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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Jun;18(6):1168-75.
doi: 10.1038/oby.2009.317. Epub 2009 Oct 15.

Effects of exercise on mobility in obese and nonobese older adults

Todd M Manini  1 , Anne B Newman, Roger Fielding, Steven N Blair, Michael G Perri, Stephen D Anton, Bret C Goodpaster, Jeff A Katula, Walter J Rejeski, Stephen B Kritchevsky, Fang-Chi Hsu, Marco Pahor, Abby C King; LIFE Research Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of exercise on mobility in obese and nonobese older adults

Todd M Manini et al. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2010 Jun.

Erratum in

  • Obesity (Silver Spring).2011 May;19(5):1106. King, Abby C [added]

Abstract

Coupled with an aging society, the rising obesity prevalence is likely to increase the future burden of physical disability. We set out to determine whether obesity modified the effects of a physical activity (PA) intervention designed to prevent mobility disability in older adults. Older adults at risk for disability (N = 424, age range: 70-88 years) were randomized to a 12 month PA intervention involving moderate intensity aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility exercise (150 min per week) or a successful aging (SA) intervention involving weekly educational workshops. Individuals were stratified by obesity using a BMI >or=30 (n = 179). Mobility function was assessed as usual walking speed over 400 m and scores on a short physical performance battery (SPPB), which includes short distance walking, balance tests, and chair rises. Over 12 months of supervised training, the attendance and total amount of walking time was similar between obese and nonobese subjects and no weight change was observed. Nonobese participants in the PA group had significant increases in 400-m walking speed (+1.5%), whereas their counterparts in the SA group declined (-4.3%). In contrast, obese individuals declined regardless of their assigned intervention group (PA: -3.1%; SA: -4.9%). SPPB scores, however, increased following PA in both obese (PA: +13.5%; SA: +2.5%) and nonobese older adults (PA: +18.6%; SA: +6.1%). A moderate intensity PA intervention improves physical function in older adults, but the positive benefits are attenuated with obesity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
400 meter walk speed in non-obese (A) and obese (B) participants stratified by physical activity (PA) and successful aging (SA) intervention groups. Obese individuals had an attenuated effect of PA on gait speed during a 400 meter walk test. Values are predicted from ANCOVA models that adjust for baseline levels, intervention, time and intervention by time interaction.
Figure 1
Figure 1
400 meter walk speed in non-obese (A) and obese (B) participants stratified by physical activity (PA) and successful aging (SA) intervention groups. Obese individuals had an attenuated effect of PA on gait speed during a 400 meter walk test. Values are predicted from ANCOVA models that adjust for baseline levels, intervention, time and intervention by time interaction.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores in non-obese (A) and obese (B) participants stratified by physical activity and successful aging intervention groups. Values are predicted from ANCOVA models that adjust for baseline levels, intervention, time and intervention by time interactio
Figure 2
Figure 2
Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) scores in non-obese (A) and obese (B) participants stratified by physical activity and successful aging intervention groups. Values are predicted from ANCOVA models that adjust for baseline levels, intervention, time and intervention by time interactio
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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