Abstract
Obesity is associated with altered circulating levels and metabolism of anabolic and catabolic hormones. In addition, these hormones are implicated in the development of many chronic diseases generally associated with aging. The effect of a long-term weight loss intervention and exercise training on these hormones in older adults is not well known. PURPOSE This study will examine the effect of weight loss and exercise training on anabolic and catabolic hormones in older obese and overweight adults. METHODS Older (>60 yrs) overweight and obese (mean BMI =34.3 kg/m2) adults with knee osteoarthritis (n=316) were randomized into 1 of 4 groups: Healthy Lifestyle Controls (HL), Exercise (E), Diet (D), and D+E. The diet groups underwent 18 months of intervention with a weight loss goal of 5%. The exercise groups participated in an aerobic and resistance program 3 d/wk for 60 min/session for 18 mos. Body weight, growth hormone, corticosterone, sex-hormone binding globulin, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were measured at baseline and at 6 and 18 months. A repeated measures analysis was performed using mixed modeling to look at main effects (diet and exercise) on the hormones. Each model adjusted for the baseline values of the hormone, BMI, and age. Analyses were also adjusted for visit, gender and race. The relationship of the hormones with BMI at baseline was also determined. RESULTS Weight loss goals were achieved as D and D+E lost 4.9% and 5.7%, respectively, of their initial body weight. Baseline BMI values were not significantly correlated with baseline hormone levels. The D intervention increased growth hormone (β=0.274; p=0.023) and testosterone (β= 0.110; p=0.041) levels for the average of the follow-up period. No other hormones were affected by the weight loss intervention. Exercise training had no effect on hormone levels. CONCLUSION These data indicate that both growth hormone and testosterone are increased with longterm weight loss in older obese and overweight adults. However, hormone levels were not changed with exercise training. Supported by NIH grants R01-AG/DK20583 and P60-AG10484
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