Suchergebnisse

Objective. The consequences of obesity among older adults are significant, yet few obesity interventions target this group. Unfamiliarity with weight loss intervention effectiveness and concerns that weight loss negatively affects older adults may be inhibiting targeting this group. This paper reviews the evidence on intentional weight loss and effective weight loss interventions for obese older adults to help dispel concerns and guide health promotion practice. Data Source. PubMed articles. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria. Randomized controlled trials examining behavioral and pharmaceutical weight loss strategies with 1-year follow-up targeting obese (body mass index ≥30) older adults (mean age ≥60 years), and studies with quasi-experimental designs examining surgical weight loss strategies targeting older adults were examined. Data Extraction. Abstracts were reviewed for study objective relevancy, with relevant articles extracted and reviewed. Data Synthesis. Data were inserted into an analysis matrix. Results. Evidence indicates behavioral strategies are effective in producing significant (all p < .05) weight loss without significant risk to obese older adults, but effectiveness evidence for surgical and pharmaceutical strategies for obese older adults is lacking, primarily because this group has not been targeted in trials or analyses did not isolate this group. Conclusion. These findings support the promotion of intentional weight loss among obese older adults and provide guidance to health promotion practitioners on effective weight loss interventions to use with this group.

Purpose Financial incentives are a promising approach to enhance weight loss outcomes; however, little guidance exists on the optimal incentive structure. Design Mixed methods. Setting An online weight management trial, combining outcome (i.e., weight loss) and behavioral (i.e., self-weighing, dietary self-monitoring, and steps) incentives over 12 months (up to $665). Subjects 116 participants who completed the incentive preference assessment at the 18-month follow-up visit. Method Response distributions on the form, magnitude, certainty, and target of the incentives and content analysis of the qualitative responses. Results Nearly all (96.6%) participants indicated they liked receiving electronic Amazon gift cards, more so than the alternatives presented. Most participants (81.0%) thought they would have lost a similar amount of weight if the incentives were smaller. Few (18.1%) indicated they would have preferred a lottery structure, but 50.8% indicated the variable incentive schedule was beneficial during the maintenance period. Most (77.6%) felt incentives were most helpful when starting to lose weight. In both phases, most participants (85.3% and 72.4%, respectively) indicated appropriate behaviors were incentivized. Participants had mixed views on whether outcome or behavioral incentives were most motivating. Conclusion There was notable variation in preferences for the magnitude, duration, and timing of incentives; it will be important to examine in future research whether incentive design should be tailored to individual preferences.