Additive Effects of Resistance Training to Diet Education on Lipid Profiles and Dietary Quality in Older Overweight and Obese Adults

Abstract

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in older adults. Risk factors include dyslipidemia and poor diet quality. A 10-week randomized clinical trial examined the additive effects of whole-body resistance training to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet education (DERT vs. DE) on lipid profiles and diet quality in overweight and obese older adults (mean age 66.6±4.3 years). Fasted plasma samples were used to measure lipids at baseline and 10 weeks. Diet information was collected by a food frequency questionnaire and diet quality was scored by the DASH Diet Index (range 0–11). There were no differences between groups at baseline in anthropometrics, lipid profiles, and dietary measures. At 10 weeks, DERT had significantly lower triacylglycerols than DE (89.3±32.9 vs. 145.2±83.4 mg/dL, p<0.05). Oxidized low density lipoproteins significantly decreased over time for DERT participants (474.6±111.8 vs. 413.9±124.4 ng/mL, p<0.05). There was a significant time by group interaction between DASH Diet Index score change and intervention group (F=9.126, p=0.006, ηp2=0.284). DASH score was significantly higher after the intervention for DERT vs. DE (6.3 vs 4.5, p<0.01). The addition of resistance training to the DASH diet may improve CHD risk factors in older overweight and obese adults, primarily lipid profiles and diet quality.