A three-week in-hospital multidisciplinary body weight reduction program exerts beneficial effects on physical and mental health and fatiguability of elderly patients with obesity

Introduction: Obesity represents one of the most serious problems of public
health affecting elderly populations in an increasingly relevant way. The
aim of the current study was to assess the effects of a 3-week in-hospital
multidisciplinary body weight reduction program (BWRP) in a sample of elderly
patients with obesity on reducing body mass index (BMI), improving fatigue,
muscle performance, and psychological well-being.
Methods: Two hundred and thirty-seven consecutive elderly in-patients with
obesity (males = 84; females = 153; age range = 65–86 yrs.; mean BMI =
43.7) undergoing a three-week multidisciplinary BWRP participated in the
study. Data on BMI, fatiguability (measured with the Fatigue Severity Scale,
FSS), muscle performance (evaluated with the Stair Climbing Test, SCT), and
psychological well-being (assessed with the Psychological General Well-
Being Index, PGWBI) were collected before and after the intervention.
Results: Results showed that BWRP was capable to reduce BMI [F(1.00,
235.00) = 1226.8; p < 0.001; ƞ2 = 0.024], improve perceived fatigue [F(1,234) =
296.80125; p < 0.001; ƞ2 = 0.129], physical performance [F(1.00,158.00) =
119.26; p < 0.001; ƞ2 = 0.026], and enhance psychological well-being
[F(1,235) = 169.0; p < 0.001; ƞ2 = 0.103] in both males and females.
Discussion: Although it will be necessary to demonstrate with further
longitudinal studies whether the reported beneficial effects will be maintained
over time, the effectiveness of a 3-week BWRP on different aspects involved
in determining a level of autonomy and good quality of life of elderly obese
patients appears to represent a valid attempt to counteract – at least in part –
the unavoidable and progressive disability of these patients.