Nutritional and Physical Activities for Overweight and Obese Older Adults

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this randomized trial is to test nutrition and exercise interventions in older adults in nursing homes. The main question it aims to answer are: • What effect do nutrition and physical interventions have on physical function and quality of life in older adults with overweight or obesity? Participants' data on body composition, physical function, and diseases will be collected. Furthermore, participants will be interviewed for a questionnaire on quality of life and nutritional intake. Researchers will compare three intervention nursing homes with three control nursing homes to see if nutrition and physical interventions have on physical function and quality of life.

Detailed Description
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Background: The aging population is increasing both globally and nationally in Denmark. Concurrent with the generally rapidly increasing incidence of being overweight, a large number of older people risk facing a number of health problems associated with being overweight and obesity (Ow/O). Aging related to malnutrition or undernutrition has received a lot of attention. However, overnutrition described as Ow/O is also classified as a nutritional disorder or a nutrition-related condition, in the same term as malnutrition. Today, all older adults in Danish nursing homes are offered an enriched diet type for malnourished older adults, focused on energy-dense snacks and a high fat percentage. This is not necessarily an appropriate diet, but it is unknown which nutritional interventions that are effective in maintaining/ improving physical functioning, independence, and quality of life. One of the concerns is that many older adults with Ow/O may have a loss of muscle mass, which can worsen with weight loss if this is not taken into account in the nutritional intervention. There is therefore a clear need to develop targeted interventions for older adults with Ow/O that can maintain or improve physical functioning and quality of life. However, a literature review of interventions within the last 10 years shows that none of the interventions are aimed at healthy older adults ≥ 65 years with a BMI≥ 25kg/m2 and good physical functioning. Instead, interventions targeted older adults with Ow/O with either low physical functioning or chronic diseases. These interventions show that older adults can lose weight, but without significant positive effects on functioning and quality of life. The interventions in the studies contain complex nutrition and exercise interventions, and the differences in the intervention descriptions and target groups make it difficult to compare and point to safe and effective interventions. In addition, the studies show that there is no difference between whether the nutrition intervention applies to weight loss or weight maintenance interventions. However, the above literature review has confirmed that there are older people with Ow/O, especially those with both low physical function and chronic disease, who may benefit from a nutritional intervention, which has led to a proposed approach. The characterization according to the screening model will be performed in sub-study 1 (a cross-sectional study) and furthermore adapted to be easy to use in a community health care setting. In this trial, on the basis of sub-study 1, the project, in co-creation with the older adults, the care staff, and the project participants, develop and test nutritional interventions that can improve muscle function and quality of life of the target group. Purpose: The overall purpose is to investigate how muscle function and care-related quality of life can be maintained or improved through nutrition and physical activity interventions in older adults in nursing homes. Study design and methods: This pragmatic feasibility cluster randomized controlled intervention study will be performed at six nursing homes in Odsherred City, Denmark. Participants and care staff from nursing homes will contribute to the design of this study protocol. Sample size calculation: Initially, the power calculation is performed by individual randomization based on the 30-second chair stand test. The starting point is six nursing homes are involved in the study. Approximately 40-50 residents are living in each location and assumable half of them want to participate in the project (n=20). A desired detectable change of 1.3, a P-value <0.05, and a power of 80%. The study has two arms (Usual care group (control) and nutritional and physical interventions group (intervention)) and the standardized difference in the nursing homes incl. intra cluster correlation, SD diff, nursing center = 0.42. SD (diff., nursing center) =(SD (diff.,person))/√n, SD diff, person ≈1.87 If SD is 1.87 or less, the power will be at least 80% or greater. If there are more than 20 people per nursing home power will increase and if there are fewer than 20 people power will decrease. Approximately 100 participants will be included and cluster randomized to either 6 months of nutritional and physical intervention (intervention group) or 6 months of usual care (control group). A simple random sample without replacement will be selected by a non-project group member using the lottery method. Effects from the intervention will be examined by mixed methods that include both quantitative and qualitative data, as well as action research that focuses on creating development and change in collaboration with participants and care staff at the nursing homes. Recruitment of participants and informed consent: Recruitment of project participants takes place from Odsherred city's six nursing homes. The first step in recruitment takes place by the principal investigator orally and in writing informing the nursing homes, care staff, relatives, nursing home councils, and the residents of the nursing homes about the project's purpose, content, and course. In the next step, (oral information) the principal investigator, the care staff, and relatives talk to the residents. Participant information (written information) is provided. The written information contains a description of the project, its purpose, method, and possible consequences associated with the participant's participation. In the trial, no serious adverse events or minor risks are expected. No biological materials are collected. A nurse at each of the nursing homes is included in the project and will be present during all data collection periods. The nurses will be involved immediately if any health issues or concerns about health issues should arise. This project meets the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki II, as well as the guidelines of the Regional Ethics Committee (EMN-2021-07672 ) and the University of Copenhagen Ethical Committee (504-0316/22-5000). Participants have the opportunity to withdraw consent at any time during the project. If there are measurements, eg performance tests, which the participants do not want to participate in, available data is collected from the journaling system without participation in all measurements. Data on participants who withdraw will be documented. Participants receive no fee or other benefits. Collection, storage, and processing of empirical data are done with the Danish Data Protection Agency's instructions for handling confidential information in research work of an empirical nature. Nutritional and physical intervention: The intervention is developed with a focus on nutritional needs and physical activities. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model is used to redefine issues and relevant actions together with residents, care staff, nursing home management, and relatives. The intervention will be developed on the basis of new knowledge from sub-study 1, previous studies, practical experiences, the participant's experiences and wishes as well as the staff's experiences and wishes. Together they will form an implementation catalog, from here, the nursing homes can select a relevant number of components, which will be tested and implemented in practice. The implementation duration is 6 months and the PDSA model is repeated three times at two-month intervals to strengthen and qualify the intervention. The PDSA model is known to the city's staff in advance and is additionally used in connection to continuing education. In addition, everyday physical activities that contribute to maintaining/improving physical function are included, based on the potentials that are uncovered in sub-study 1. Data collection: Data are collected at baseline and after 6 months. The primary outcome is sustained or improved muscle function, but other outcomes include the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) questionnaire, calf circumference, Eating Validation Scheme (EVS), and Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) Criteria for diagnosing undernutrition is also collected. The data analysis takes into account that not all participants are included in all measurements. Statistical analysis: The analysis follows the intention-to-treat principle and thereby includes all data after randomization, regardless of non-compliance or lack of results. The effect of measures and intervention is assessed using an analysis of covariates adjusted for potential confounders (sex and age), which will be used to compare the variables between groups. The chi-square test will be used to compare groups of older adults with overnutrition in terms of body composition, muscle function, non-communicable disease, and nutritional risk. Data on recruitment and participants' feasibility and compliance in relation to intervention will be assessed by descriptive and comparative analyzes. A statistical software program for scientific research R will be used for statistical analyzes.

Official Title
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Interventions Focusing on Nutrition and Physical Activities for Overweight and Obese Older Adults in Nursing Homes IFEBO (A Feasibility Study)

Conditions
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Overweight, Obesity and Other Hyperalimentation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Nutritional and physical interventions


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Living at the nursing homes in Odsherred City Informed consent form signed after receiving oral and written information Read, speak and understand Danish Exclusion Criteria: Terminal ill

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 60 Years
Maximum Age: 110 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Two arms (Nutritional and Physical Activity Intervention Group and Usual Care Group). Approximately 100 participants will be included and cluster randomized by the nursing home to either 6 months of nutritional and physical interventions or 6 months of usual care (control).
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Usual Care Group (Control)<br>Approximately 100 participants will be included and cluster randomized by nursing home (n= 3) to either 6 months of nutritional and physical intervention or 6 months of usual care (control). Usual Care Group will receive the usual care at the control nursing homes (n=3) | |
| Experimental: Nutritional and Physical Intervention Group (Intervention Group)<br>Approximately 100 participants will be included and cluster randomized by nursing home (n= 3) to either 6 months of nutritional and physical intervention or 6 months of usual care (control). The Nutritional and Physical Intervention Group will receive nutritional and physical interventions collaborative defined by residents, relatives, care staff, and nursing home management during the PDSA workshops. | Behavioral: Nutritional and physical interventions<br>* The intervention is developed with a focus on nutritional needs and physical activities. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model is used to redefine issues and relevant actions together with residents, relatives, care staff, and nursing home management. The intervention will be developed based on new knowledge from sub-study 1, previous studies, practical experiences, the participant's experiences and wishes as well as the staff's experiences and wishes. Together they will form an implementation catalog, from here, the intervention nursing homes can select a relevant number of components, which will be tested and implemented in practice. The implementation duration is 6 months and the PDSA model is repeated at two-month intervals to strengthen and qualify the intervention. The PDSA model is known to the city's staff in advance and is additionally used in connection to continuing education. The Usual Care Group will continue the usual care.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hand Grip Strength (HGS) | Muscle function assessed by HGS in kilograms as a unit. To measure HGS, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was followed using a Jamar Smart Hand Dynamometer. Three measurements on each hand will be completed, when participants were sitting upright and with the arm at a 90-degree angle. The test was performed by the principal researcher and trained clinical dietician students. | Baseline | 
| Change in Hand Grip Strength (HGS) | Muscle function assessed by HGS in kilograms as a unit. To measure HGS, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was followed using a ¨Jamar Smart Hand Dynamometer. Three measurements on each hand will be completed, when participants were sitting upright and with the arm at a 90-degree angle. The test was performed by the principal researcher and trained clinical dietician students. | 6 months follow-up | 
| Chair Stand Test (CST) - 30 Second | Muscle function assessed by CST. The test requires the participant to stand up and sit down as many times as possible within 30 seconds according to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The participants are seated in a standard chair with their feet shoulder length apart and one foot in front of the other, doing as many stands as possible within 30 seconds. The unit is the number of full stands performed. Trained clinical dietician students and primary researcher will perform all tests | Baseline | 
| Change in Chair Stand Test (CST) - 30 Second | Muscle function assessed by CST. The test requires the participant to stand up and sit down as many times as possible within 30 seconds according to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The participants are seated in a standard chair with their feet shoulder length apart and one foot in front of the other, doing as many stands as possible within 30 seconds. The unit is the number of full stands performed. Trained clinical dietician students and primary researcher will perform all tests | 6 months follow-up | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Quality of Life by Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) | Quality of life will be assessed by the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) questionnaire performed as an interview. The interview was performed by the principal researcher and trained clinical dietician students. The questionnaire ask the participants to give their own subjective evaluation of their experience for each of the eight domains including; Control over daily life, Personal cleanliness and comfort, Meals and nutrition, Safety, Social participation, Activities/occupation, Home cleanliness and comfort, and Dignity and respect. These subjective measures relate directly to the participant's capabilities i.e. the extent to which their experienced physical and physiological environment allows the participants to choose their own situations. The satisfaction was scaled from 'Very satisfied', 'Quite satisfied', 'Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied', to 'Quite or very dissatisfied' and 'Don't know' | Baseline | 
| Change in Quality of Life by Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) | Quality of life will be assessed by the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT) questionnaire performed as an interview. The interview was performed by the principal researcher and trained clinical dietician students. The questionnaire ask the participants to give their own subjective evaluation of their experience for each of the eight domains including; Control over daily life, Personal cleanliness and comfort, Meals and nutrition, Safety, Social participation, Activities/occupation, Home cleanliness and comfort, and Dignity and respect. These subjective measures relate directly to the participant's capabilities i.e. the extent to which their experienced physical and physiological environment allows the participants to choose their own situations.The satisfaction was scaled from 'Very satisfied', 'Quite satisfied', 'Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied', to 'Quite or very dissatisfied' and 'Don't know' | 6 months follow-up | 
| Weight in kilograms | Weight is measured on a calibrated chair scale in the morning before breakfast. Participants are not wearing shoes and are dressed in light clothing. The units are in kilograms (kg). Changes in weight are assessed together with changes in Body Mass Index calculated by kg divided by height (m)^2 | Baseline | 
| Change in weight in kilograms | Weight is measured on a calibrated chair scale in the morning before breakfast. Participants are not wearing shoes and are dressed in light clothing. The units are in kilograms (kg). Changes in weight are assessed together with changes in Body Mass Index calculated by kg divided by height (m)^2 | 6 months follow-up | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Geriatric, Overnutrition, Physical function, Quality of Life