Published on January 25, 2024–Updated on September 26, 2024
J. Vion, V. Sramkova, E. Montastier, M.A. Marquès, S. Caspar-Bauguil,T. Duparc, L.O. Martinez, V. Bourlier, I. Harant, D. Larrouy, N. Moussaoui, S. Bonnel, C. Vindis, C. Dray, P. Valet, J.S. Saulnier-Blache, J. P. Schanstra, C. Thalamas, N. Viguerie, C. Moro, D. Langin (2021)
Abstract
The number of older obese adults is increasing worldwide. Whether obese adults show similar health benefits in response tolifestyle interventions at different ages is unknown. The study enrolled 25 obese men (body mass index: 3139 kg/m2) in twoarms according to age (30-40 and 60-70 yr old). Participants underwent an 8-wk intervention with moderate calorie restriction(20% below individual energy requirements) and supervised endurance training resulting in5% weight loss. Body composi-tion was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Insulin sensitivity was assessed during a hypersinsulinemic-euglyce-mic clamp. Cardiometabolic profile was derived from blood parameters. Subcutaneous fat and vastus lateralis muscle biopsieswere used for ex vivo analyses. Two-way repeated-measure ANOVA and linear mixed models were used to evaluate theresponse to lifestyle intervention and comparison between the two groups. Fat mass was decreased and bone mass was pre-served in the two groups after intervention. Muscle mass decreased significantly in older obese men. Cardiovascular risk(Framingham risk score, plasma triglyceride, and cholesterol) and insulin sensitivity were greatly improved to a similar extent inthe two age groups after intervention. Changes in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle transcriptomes were marginal. Analysis ofthe differential response to the lifestyle intervention showed tenuous differences between age groups. These data suggest thatlifestyle intervention combining calorie restriction and exercise shows similar beneficial effects on cardiometabolic risk and insu-lin sensitivity in younger and older obese men. However, attention must be paid to potential loss of muscle mass in response toweight loss in older obese men.NEW & NOTEWORTHYRise in obesity and aging worldwide are major trends of critical importance in public health. This studyaddresses a current challenge in obesity management. Do older obese adults respond differently to a lifestyle intervention com-posed of moderate calorie restriction and supervised physical activity than younger ones? The main conclusion of the study isthat older and younger obese men similarly benefit from the intervention in terms of cardiometabolic risk.aging; calorie restriction; cardiometabolic risk; obesity; physical exercise