High-Protein Diet Could Improve Physical Function in Older Adults

A high-protein diet can help obese older adults lose weight and improve physical function compared with a regular weight loss regimen, according to a new study.

Older adults who are obese can have a hard time exercising and losing weight due to physical limitations, and improper dieting can diminish muscle mass in addition to fat. However, researchers were curious whether increasing protein intake at each meal could help obese older adults lose weight while preserving muscle mass and improving physical limitations.

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To conduct their study, researchers followed 67 obese adults—defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or higher—aged 60 years and older who had a Short Physical Performance Battery score of 4 to 10.

Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: a control group adhered to a traditional weight loss regimen, and the other increased protein intake at each meal.

Researchers recorded physical performance score and BMI at baseline, after 3 months, and after 6 months.

At the 6-month follow-up, researchers found that the protein group lost more weight (-8.7±7.4 kg) than the control group (-7.5±6.2 kg), and the protein group had higher improved physical function scores (+2.4±1.7 units) than the control group (+0.9±1.7 units).

“Obese, functionally limited older adults undergoing a 6-month weight loss intervention with a meal-based enhancement of protein quantity and quality lost similar amounts of weight but had greater functional improvements relative to the Control group,” researchers concluded. “If confirmed, this dietary approach could have important implications for improving the functional status of this vulnerable population.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Porter Starr KN, Pieper CF, Orenduff MC, et al. Improved function with enhanced protein intake per meal: A pilot study of weight reduction in frail, obese older adults [published online January 18, 2016]. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. doi:10.1093/gerona/glv210.