Lifestyle Intervention and Testosterone Replacement in Obese Seniors
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The prevalence of obesity in Veterans is greater than in the general population, and even
more so among users of the VA Health Care System. In addition, the population of obese older
Veterans is rapidly increasing as more baby boomers become senior citizens. In older
Veterans, obesity exacerbates the age- related decline in physical function and causes
frailty which predisposes to admission to a VA chronic care facility. However, the optimal
clinical approach to obesity in older adults is controversial because of the concern that
weight loss therapy could be harmful by aggravating the age-related loss of muscle mass and
bone mass. In fact, the MOVE (Managing Overweight/Obese Veterans) program does not have any
guidelines for eligible Veterans if they are 70 or older. It is possible that the addition of
testosterone replacement to lifestyle therapy will preserve muscle mass and bone mass and
reverse frailty in obese older Veterans and thus prevent their loss of independence and
decrease demand for VA health care services.
Phase:
Phase 3
Details
Lead Sponsor:
VA Office of Research and Development
Collaborators:
Baylor College of Medicine Biomedical Research Institute of New Mexico Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Washington University School of Medicine