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