Effects of Age and Sex on Weight-Loss Dynamics in Obese Patients Undergoing Very Low Calorie Treatment

  • Edward Jo Human Performance Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, California State Polytechnic University Pomona & Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine, Florida State University
  • Angelina Cain Tallahassee Memorial Hospital
  • Carla M. Prado Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine, Florida State University & Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Canada
  • Ann F. Brown Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine, Florida State University & Department of Movement Sciences, University of Idaho
  • Michael J. Ormsbee Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine, Florida State University
  • Dawn Smith Tallahassee Memorial Hospital
  • Katie Snyder Tallahassee Memorial Hospital
  • Jeong-Su Kim Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sports Sciences & Medicine, Florida State University

Abstract

Background and Significance: Although known to effectively provoke large scaled weight-loss, less is known regarding age- and sex-related influences on treatment outcomes of bariatric patients treated with a very-low calorie diet (VLCD) program. Purpose: This study retrospectively examined body composition and metabolic changes induced by a 12-wk proprietary VLCD treatment in obese patients while assessing age and sex differences. Methods: Male (n=16) and female (n=16) patients underwent 12 weeks of VLCD under standard medical care. Results: Older patients exhibited a greater relative loss of FFM compared to younger patients (p=0.004). Older patients also lost a greater proportion of total weight-loss as FFM (p=0.003) and lower proportion as FM (p=0.003) compared to the young group. This age-specific difference in weight-loss composition was driven by the older males. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the need for special clinical considerations for VLCD treated patients, such as older adults and perhaps older males specifically, who demonstrate a reduced quality of weight-loss compared to their younger counterpart.

Published
2017-12-01
How to Cite
Jo, E., Cain, A., Prado, C. M., Brown, A. F., Ormsbee, M. J., Smith, D., Snyder, K., & Kim, J.-S. (2017). Effects of Age and Sex on Weight-Loss Dynamics in Obese Patients Undergoing Very Low Calorie Treatment. Californian Journal of Health Promotion, 15(3), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.32398/cjhp.v15i3.1906