- Design
- Post hoc analysis of a cluster-randomised trial
- Population
- 678 adults aged 60–77 at risk of dementia with BMI ≥25
- Primary outcome
- Body weight at 24 months
- Effect
- b −0.30 (95% CI −0.51 to 1.11), no significant difference
AgeWell.de was a cluster-randomised German trial of a two-year multidomain programme — dietary counselling, physical, social and cognitive activity, medication review and cardiovascular risk management — in adults aged 60 to 77 at risk of dementia. A post hoc analysis in BMC Geriatrics looked at body weight among 678 participants with a BMI of 25 or more.
At 24 months, the intervention was not associated with lower weight (regression coefficient −0.30, 95% CI −0.51 to 1.11). Motivation and confidence about losing weight stayed high in both groups, and diet and activity improved with the intervention, but this did not translate into weight loss.
The finding is a caution against expecting weight change from broad lifestyle programmes in older adults. Weight loss was not the trial's goal, and in this age group the benefits of activity and diet may come without it.
- A broad lifestyle programme over two years did not reduce weight in older adults with overweight.
- Improvements in diet and activity were not accompanied by measurable weight loss.
- Judge lifestyle programmes in older adults on function, strength and cognition rather than weight alone.
- Where weight loss is a goal in older adults, pair it with resistance exercise to protect muscle.
Why it matters
Motivation and better habits were not enough to change weight, which matters when setting goals with older patients.
Don't overread it
This is a post hoc analysis of a trial not designed to reduce weight.
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