Effects of Intentional Weight Loss on Physical and Cognitive Function in Middle-Aged and Older Obese Participants: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Weight loss in middle-aged and in older obese participants has a beneficial effect on cognitive and physical function. If confirmed in future trials, weight loss can significantly affect public health strategies for the prevention of dementia as well as on the clinical management of obesity.

Weight loss is associated with improvements in cognitive function among overweight and obese people: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…After excluding 1,209 papers on the grounds of a review of their titles and abstracts, 41 full-text articles were examined, and 20 studies were ultimately included in our meta-analysis (Figure 1) Boraxbekk et al, 2015;Brinkworth et al, 2009;Bryan and Tiggemann, 2001;Buffenstein et al, 2000;Cheatham et al, 2009;Green and Elliman, 2012;Guldstrand et al, 2003;Halyburton et al, 2007;Kretsch et al, 1997;Marques et al, 2014;Martin et al, 2009;Miller et al, 2013;Napoli et al, 2014;Prehn et al, 2016;Siervo et al, 2012;Smith et al, 2010;Spitznagel et al, 2014;Wing et al, 1995;Witte et al, 2009). …”

“…The dietary intervention impact on attention was more pronounced than the four Marques et al, 2014;Miller et al, 2013;Spitznagel et al, 2014) Brinkworth et al, 2009;Cheatham et al, 2009;Guldstrand et al, 2003;Miller et al, 2013;Spitznagel et al, 2014;Wing et al, 1995) Conversely, weight loss interventions did not significantly improve motor speed (7 studies only with dietary interventions; Buffenstein et al, 2000;Cheatham et al, 2009;Kretsch et al, 1997;Marques et al, 2014;Miller et al, 2013;Siervo et al, 2012;Spitznagel et al, 2014;Wing et al, 1995); SMD=0.13; 95%CI: -0.37-0.10, p=0.10; I 2 =69%) and language (3 studies only with bariatric surgery; Miller et al, 2013;Spitznagel et al, 2014); SMD=0.08; 95%CI: -0.06 to 0.22, p=0.27; I 2 =0%) parameters.…”

“…Weight loss interventions improved attention domains in nine studies Buffenstein et al, 2000;Cheatham et al, 2009;Kretsch et al, 1997;Marques et al, 2014;Miller et al, 2013;Siervo et al, 2012;Spitznagel et al, 2014;Wing et al, 1995) involving 337 participants (SMD=0.30; 95%CI: 0.15-0.44, p<0.0001; I 2 =64%), with the five studies using a dietary intervention (Buffenstein et al, 2000;Cheatham et al, 2009;Kretsch et al, 1997;Siervo et al, 2012;Wing et al, 1995). The dietary intervention impact on attention was more pronounced than the four Marques et al, 2014;Miller et al, 2013;Spitznagel et al, 2014) Brinkworth et al, 2009;Cheatham et al, 2009;Guldstrand et al, 2003;Miller et al, 2013;Spitznagel et al, 2014;Wing et al, 1995) Conversely, weight loss interventions did not significantly improve motor speed (7 studies only with dietary interventions; Buffenstein et al, 2000;Cheatham et al, 2009;Kretsch et al, 1997;Marques et al, 2014;Miller et al, 2013;Siervo et al, 2012;Spitznagel et al, 2014;Wing et al, 1995); SMD=0.13; 95%CI: -0.37-0.10, p=0.10; I 2 =69%) and language (3 studies only with bariatric surgery; Miller et al, 2013;Spitznagel et al, 2014); SMD=0.08; 95%CI: -0.06 to 0.22, p=0.27; I 2 =0%) parameters.…”

“…The 13 longitudinal studies Boraxbekk et al, 2015;Brinkworth et al, 2009;Buffenstein et al, 2000;Cheatham et al, 2009;Guldstrand et al, 2003;Halyburton et al, 2007;Kretsch et al, 1997;Marques et al, 2014;Miller et al, 2013;Siervo et al, 2012;Spitznagel et al, 2014;Wing et al, 1995) followed-up 551 participants with a mean age of 46.3 (SD=12.8) years, predominantly women, for a median of 24 (range: 4-144) weeks. The BMI significantly decreased across the studies by 7 Kg/m 2 (from 37.2 at baseline to 30.9 at follow-up).…”

“…The 13 longitudinal studies Boraxbekk et al, 2015;Brinkworth et al, 2009;Buffenstein et al, 2000;Cheatham et al, 2009;Guldstrand et al, 2003;Halyburton et al, 2007;Kretsch et al, 1997;Marques et al, 2014;Miller et al, 2013;Siervo et al, 2012;Spitznagel et al, 2014;Wing et al, 1995) included 551 participants, while the 7 RCTs (Bryan and Tiggemann, 2001;Green and Elliman, 2012;Martin et al, 2009;Napoli et al, 2014;Prehn et al, 2016;Smith et al, 2010;Witte et al, 2009) encompassed 468 individuals (328 in the treated groups and 140 controls), representing a total of 1,019 participants with obesity or being overweight at baseline. The mean age was 50.0 (standard deviation, SD=10.7) years, and the included participants were predominantly women (=78.3%).…”