Weight Loss and Physical Activity Reduces Perceived Physical Fatigability Among Older Adults With Obesity.

In 30 seconds

This randomized controlled trial evaluated perceived physical fatigability in 183 older adults with obesity assigned to aerobic exercise, increased daylong movement, or both, alongside a dietary weight-loss program. The Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS) Physical score improved by 4.4 points from baseline to 6 months (p = 0.002); improvement was largely maintained at 18 months (-3.0 points, p = 0.03). Results were adjusted for baseline characteristics, intervention group, and time-by-group effects. Rating of Perceived Exertion after a brief treadmill walk did not improve.

Key findings

• PFS Physical scores improved by -4.4 points at 6 months (p = 0.002) and remained improved by -3.0 points at 18 months (p = 0.03).
• The PFS improvement did not differ significantly by intervention group over time (time × intervention group, p = 0.83).
• Rating of Perceived Exertion after a 5-min treadmill walk did not improve (p > 0.05).

Why it matters

Perceived physical fatigability can reflect how demanding everyday activity feels. These findings suggest that, among older adults with obesity participating in dietary weight loss, several physical activity approaches may improve this patient-reported outcome over time. The lack of change in exertion ratings on a brief treadmill walk also indicates that results may depend on how fatigability is measured.

What to keep in mind

All groups received dietary weight loss, so the study does not isolate the effect of physical activity from weight loss. The abstract does not report a comparison with a group receiving neither intervention.