Effect of Nursing Intervention on Weight Loss of Obese Older Adults

Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are an increasing worldwide health problem. Obesity is
recognized as a major health threat throughout the life-span affecting all ages particularly older adults.
Overweight and obesity are commonly associated with comorbidities that significantly deteriorate quality
of life and expectancy. Behavioral interventions are the initial approach recommended for the prevention,
as well as treatment of obesity. Objective: Determine effect of nursing intervention on weight loss of obese
older adults. Setting: The study was carried out in geriatric outpatient clinic at Specialized Medical
Hospital, Mansoura University, Egypt. Subjects: The study included 66 obese older adults of both sex,
aged 60 year and more, able to communicate, accept to participate in the study, and available at the
selected setting during the period of data collection. Tools: Data was collected using four tools,
Demographic and clinical data structured interview sheet of obese older adults, Obesity knowledge
structured interview sheet, Self reported health behaviors related to weight loss structured interview sheet
and Physical activity scale for the elderly (PASE). Results: Results of the study indicate, 78.8% of the
study subjects were females. There was significant decrease in mean body mass index (39.05±3.19 vs.
37.54±3.48, p≤0.001) with a mean weight of (107.36±4.76 vs. 103.31±6.12 kg, p≤0.001), indicating mean
weight loss of 4.05 kg. Significant improvements were observed regarding obesity knowledge, adoption of
health behaviors and physical function particularly among elderly women. a significant improvement in
self perception of body weight and perceived obesity risks among the studied elders, p≤0.001.
Conclusion: This study reflects that weight loss nursing intervention based on healthy hypo-caloric diet
with increased physical activity and behavioral change had marked reduce in body weight with
improvement in physical function. Recommendations: Obesity prevention efforts should be applied in
primary care settings, where health care providers have longitudinal relationship with geriatric patients
and can provide a brief, motivational interviewing to engage them in behavioral change to maintain their
weight.