title: Obesity, intentional weight loss and physical disability in older adults.
abstract: We examine obesity, intentional weight loss and physical disability in older adults. Based on prospective epidemiological studies, body mass index exhibits a curvilinear relationship with physical disability; there appears to be some protective effect associated with older adults being overweight. Whereas the greatest risk for physical disability occurs in older adults who are ≥class II obesity, the effects of obesity on physical disability appears to be moderated by both sex and race. Obesity at age 30 years constitutes a greater risk for disability later in life than when obesity develops at age 50 years or later; however, physical activity may buffer the adverse effects obesity has on late life physical disability. Data from a limited number of randomized clinical trials reinforce the important role that physical activity plays in weight loss programmes for older adults. Furthermore, short-term studies have found that resistance training may be particularly beneficial in these programmes as this mode of exercise attenuates the loss of fat-free mass during caloric restriction. Multi-year randomized clinical trials are needed to examine whether weight loss can alter the course of physical disablement in aging and to determine the long-term feasibility and effects of combining resistance exercise with weight loss in older adults.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Health and Exercise Science and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Rejeski
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chmelo
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rejeski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D010809:Physical Fitness; D055070:Resistance Training; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*