title: Effectiveness of weight loss interventions for obese older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The consequences of obesity among older adults are significant, yet few obesity interventions target this group. Unfamiliarity with weight loss intervention effectiveness and concerns that weight loss negatively affects older adults may be inhibiting targeting this group. This paper reviews the evidence on intentional weight loss and effective weight loss interventions for obese older adults to help dispel concerns and guide health promotion practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed articles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trials examining behavioral and pharmaceutical weight loss strategies with 1-year follow-up targeting obese (body mass index ≥ 30) older adults (mean age ≥ 60 years), and studies with quasi-experimental designs examining surgical weight loss strategies targeting older adults were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Abstracts were reviewed for study objective relevancy, with relevant articles extracted and reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were inserted into an analysis matrix.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evidence indicates behavioral strategies are effective in producing significant (all p < .05) weight loss without significant risk to obese older adults, but effectiveness evidence for surgical and pharmaceutical strategies for obese older adults is lacking, primarily because this group has not been targeted in trials or analyses did not isolate this group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings support the promotion of intentional weight loss among obese older adults and provide guidance to health promotion practitioners on effective weight loss interventions to use with this group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. felixholly@uams.edu
authors.forename: Holly C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Felix
authors.forename: Delia S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D000077403:Orlistat; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D015431:Weight Loss; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D007783:Lactones; D000077403:Orlistat