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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #262434
Title: Intensive lifestyle intervention improves physical function among obese adults with knee pain: Findings from the Look AHEAD trial

Author
item FOY, CAPRI - Wake Forest School Of Medicine
item LEWIS, CORA - University Of Alabama
item HAIRSTON, KRISTEN - Wake Forest School Of Medicine
item MILLER, GARY - Wake Forest University
item LANG, WEI - Wake Forest School Of Medicine
item JAKICIC, JOHN - University Of Pittsburgh
item REJESKI, W. JACK - University Of Alabama
item Raatz, Susan

Submitted to: Obesity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2010
Publication Date: 1/1/2011
Citation: Foy, C.G., Lewis, C.A., Hairston, K.G., Miller, G.D., Lang, W., Jakicic, J.M., Rejeski, W., Raatz, S.K. 2011. Intensive lifestyle intervention improves physical function among obese adults with knee pain: Findings from the Look AHEAD trial. Obesity. 19(1):83-93.

Interpretive Summary: Intensive lifestyle intervention of diet management and increased physical activity is effective in causing weight loss and result in improvements in physical functioning of subjects with diabetes and knee pain.

Technical Abstract: Lifestyle interventions causing weight loss or improved physical fitness in obese individuals may lead to improved physical function. This study involved participants in the Action for Health in Diabetes (Look AHEAD) trial who reported knee pain at baseline (n = 2,203). The purposes of this study were to determine whether an Intensive Lifestyle Intervention (ILI) group had improved self-reported physical function from baseline to 12 months vs. a Diabetes Support and Education (DSE) group, and if changes in weight or fitness were the cause. Outcome measures included the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain, stiffness, and physical function subscales, and WOMAC summary score. ILI participants exhibited greater adjusted mean weight loss vs. DSE ILI participants also demonstrated more favorable change in WOMAC summary scores vs. DSE participants. Weight loss was a mediator of the effect of the ILI intervention on change in WOMAC pain, function, and summary scores (P < 0.001). Increased fitness also mediated the effect of the ILI intervention upon WOMAC summary score. The ILI condition resulted in significant improvement in physical function among overweight and obese adults with diabetes and knee pain. The ILI condition also resulted in significant weight loss and improved fitness, which are possible mechanisms through which the ILI condition improved physical function.