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Impact of a one-year behavioral weight management program on depressive symptoms in older adults

Thompson, Rebecca (2019) Impact of a one-year behavioral weight management program on depressive symptoms in older adults. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

While it has been widely recognized that both exercise and weight loss benefit older adults with obesity and depressive symptoms, the ability of these individuals to complete and benefit from lifestyle programs is unknown. This essay looks at whether older adults with mild depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression/CES-D score of 11 or more) benefit from a one-year lifestyle intervention in terms of change in depressive symptoms, weight loss, and physical activity measured at either 5, 9, or 13 months. In the Mobility and Vitality Lifestyle Program (MOVE UP) study, no statistically significant difference was found between the drop-out rate of participants with mild depressive symptoms compared to those without mild depressive symptoms. The overall dropout rate from the study was 13.6% over 13 months. In addition, participants with mild depressive symptoms showed statistically significant improvements in their mean CES-D scores of -3.9 points at 5 months (p<0.001) and -3.1 points at 13 months (p=0.004). These changes were independent of weight loss or a change in activity levels. Although regression to the mean may play a role in this finding, the amount of change suggests a meaningful effect. Overall, this study supports the inclusion of older adults with mild depressive symptoms in lifestyle improvement programs. Our findings show that the majority of participants were able to successfully complete the program, and that over the course of the intervention, they lost weight and had a decrease in depressive symptoms.


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Details

Item Type: Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Thompson, Rebeccarnt13@pitt.edurnt13
Contributors:
ContributionContributors NameEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairVenditti, Elizabethemv2@edc.pitt.eduUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Committee MemberGlynn, Nancyglynnn@edc.pitt.eduUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Committee MemberBououdreau, Robertboudreaur@edc.pitt.eduUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Date: 26 April 2019
Date Type: Submission
Submission Date: 8 April 2019
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 36
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Public Health > Epidemiology
Degree: MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type: Master Essay
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: older adults depressive depression lifestyle exercise
Date Deposited: 05 Oct 2019 00:00
Last Modified: 01 May 2022 05:15
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/36398

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