title: Meal-based enhancement of protein quality and quantity during weight loss in obese older adults with mobility limitations: rationale and design for the MEASUR-UP trial.
abstract: Obese older adults with even modest functional limitations are at a disadvantage for maintaining their independence into late life. However, there is no established intervention for obesity in older individuals. The Measuring Eating, Activity, and Strength: Understanding the Response - Using Protein (MEASUR-UP) trial is a randomized controlled pilot study of obese women and men aged ≥60 years with mild to moderate functional impairments. Changes in body composition (lean and fat mass) and function (Short Physical Performance Battery) in an enhanced protein weight reduction (Protein) arm will be compared to those in a traditional weight loss (Control) arm. The Protein intervention is based on evidence that older adults achieve optimal rates of muscle protein synthesis when consuming about 25-30 g of high quality protein per meal; these participants will consume ~30 g of animal protein at each meal via a combination of provided protein (beef) servings and diet counseling. This trial will provide information on the feasibility and efficacy of enhancing protein quantity and quality in the context of a weight reduction regimen and determine the impact of this intervention on body weight, functional status, and lean muscle mass. We hypothesize that the enhancement of protein quantity and quality in the Protein arm will result in better outcomes for function and/or lean muscle mass than in the Control arm. Ultimately, we hope our findings will help identify a safe weight loss approach that can delay or prevent late life disability by changing the trajectory of age-associated functional impairment associated with obesity.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, United States. Electronic address: shelley.mcdonald@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Shelley R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Kathryn N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Porter Starr
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mauceri
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orenduff
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Granville
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ocampo
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Martha E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, United States; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Carl F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Pieper
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, United States; Center for the Study of Aging, Duke University Medical Center, United States; Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham VA Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Connie W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bales
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003376:Counseling; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000379:methods*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins
keywords: Function; Obesity; Older adults; Protein; Sarcopenic obesity; Weight loss intervention