Effect of a 12-week mixed power training on physical function in dynapenic-obese older men: does severity of dynapenia matter?

INTRODUCTION: Mobility disability affects nearly 15% of people aged 65 or over worldwide. Excess weight or obesity (OB), along with an accentuated loss of muscle strength (dynapenia), is recognized to be one of the most common risk factors for mobility impairment among the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a 12-week mixed power training (MPT high-velocity resistance training mixed with functional exercises) on physical function in obese older men exhibiting different severities of dynapenia. METHODS: Community-dwelling older men (69 ± 6 years) were assigned to the study if they were considered obese (OB, fat mass ≥ 25% body weight, BW) and to one of the two groups according to severity of dynapenia [(handgrip strength-HS)/BW]: type 1(OB-DY1) or type 2(OB-DY2), < 1 or 2SD from a young reference group. Participants followed a 12-week MPT, three times/week, 75 min/session. Main outcomes included the performance on the 4-m and 6-min walking tests, Timed Up and Go, stair and balance tests. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: At baseline, OB-DY1 performed better than OB-DY2 in all functional tests (p < 0.05). Following the intervention, medium-to-large training effect size (ES) were observed for fat (ES = 0.21) and lean (ES = 0.32, p < 0.001) masses, functional performance (ES 0.11-0.54, p < 0.05), HS (ES = 0.10, p < 0.05) and lower limb muscle strength (ES = 0.67, p < 0.001) and power (ES = 0.60, p < 0.05). Training-by-group interaction showed that OB-DY1 lost more FM (ES = 0.11, p = 0.03) and OB-DY2 improved more HS (ES = 0.19, p = 0.006) than their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Seniors with obesity and severe dynapenia have poorer physical function than those in the early stage of dynapenia. Both seem to benefit from a high-velocity resistance training mixed with functional exercises, although by slightly different pathways.

Current Concepts in Healthy Aging and Physical Activity: A Viewpoint.

Physical activity plays an important role for achieving healthy aging by promoting independence and increasing the quality of life. However, current guidelines for physical activity in older adults may be difficult to achieve in an older population. Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that increasing exercise intensity in older adults may be associated with greater reductions in the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Therefore, the idea prescribing high-intensity exercise protocols such as high-intensity interval training and high-intensity resistance training becomes an intriguing strategy for healthy aging. Collectively, the literature review in this viewpoint will briefly focus on summarizing alternative/novel time-efficient approaches in physical activity toward healthy aging. Our goal is to hopefully open a discussion on possibly revising the current physical activity guidelines in older adults.

Testing a novel multicomponent intervention to reduce meat consumption in young men.

Both epidemiological studies and randomised controlled trials have shown that meat-eating can be harmful to human health. Meat-eating is also considered to be a moral issue, impacting negatively on the environment and the welfare of animals. To date, very little scientific research has aimed to reduce this dietary behavior. Therefore, the current research tests the effectiveness of a 4-week multicomponent intervention designed to reduce meat-eating. Using a randomised controlled trial procedure, thirty-two young men (mean age: 23.5 ± 3.1 years old) were randomly assigned into two equal groups, the intervention vs control group. Based on research in social and health psychology, the intervention was composed of five components expected to reduce meat consumption: a social norm component; an informational/educational component; an appeal to fear; a mind attribution induction; and a goal setting/self-monitoring component. Measures of different types of meat intake (using dietary journals) were taken at baseline (Time 1) as well as 2 (Time 2) and 4 weeks later (Time 3). Emotions and attitudes toward meat-eating and animals were also assessed at Time 3. Significant reductions in total and weekend red meat consumption as well as cold cuts consumed on the weekend were observed in the intervention condition from Time 1 to Time 3. Moreover, reduced positive emotions toward eating meat mediated the reduction in red meat consumption. The component of the intervention that participants most often perceived as having led to a reduction in their meat consumption was the informational component. In conclusion, results provide support for the effectiveness of the multicomponent intervention and for the mediating role of positive emotions when predicting behavioral changes in meat consumption.

Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training Combined with L-Citrulline Supplementation on Functional Capacities and Muscle Function in Dynapenic-Obese Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: To compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) alone vs. HIIT combined with L-citrulline (CIT) supplementation on functional capacity and muscle function in dynapenic-obese elderly. METHODS: A total of 56 obese (fat mass: men > 25%, women > 35%) and dynapenic (grip strength/body weight: women < 0.44, men < 0.61) subjects were recruited and divided in two groups: HIIT+CIT (n = 26; age: 6 5 ± four years) vs. HIIT+Placebo (PLA, n = 30; age: 68 ± four years). Participants followed a 12-week HIIT using an elliptical trainer. Participants took a single and isocaloric 10 g-dose of CIT or PLA every day. Body composition; functional and aerobic capacities; absolute or relative upper and lower limbs muscle strength, muscle power; and energy balance were measured pre and post intervention. RESULTS: Both groups significantly improved functional capacity and muscle function. However, HIIT+CIT demonstrated greater improvements in fast-paced Timed Up & Go (p = 0.04) and upper limbs muscle strength (absolute and relative) (p = 0.05) than HIIT+Placebo. CONCLUSION: CIT supplementation when combined with HIIT seems to induce greater improvements in upper limbs muscle strength and walking speed in dynapenic-obese elderly. Further studies are needed to confirm our results, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of CIT and to define the long-term impact of CIT/HIIT.