Changes in weight and physical function for older African American women in Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS): Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND

Obesity and frailty are positively linked. Compared to other groups, older African American women have the highest rates of both obesity and frailty. Several academic weight loss interventions have shown that older adults can lose weight and improve physical function through diet and exercise. However, these programs do not have infrastructure for dissemination. Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) is a peer-led, community-based weight loss program with TOPS has a nationwide infrastructure that facilitates dissemination. Retrospective analyses showed that TOPS participants could lose a clinically significant amount of weight and maintain the loss for up to 7 years. This study will evaluate how TOPS participation affects weight change; physical function; cardiovascular disease risk factors; quality of life; and healthcare utilization among older African American women.

METHODS

We are recruiting 104 older African American women aged ≥55 years with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m to participate in a 6-month randomized wait-list controlled trial where TOPS is facilitated by a dietitian in weekly meetings. The primary goal of the intervention is for participants to lose at least 5 % of their initial weight. Outcomes will be collected at study visits at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

DISCUSSION

If successful, this study will show that the TOPS program would be an option to treat excess weight and poor physical function among older African American women.