High-Protein and Low-Calorie Diet Helps Older Adults Lose Weight Safely, Shows Study

A study from Wake Forest University determined a high-protein, low-calorie diet helps obese older adults lose more weight, maintain more muscle mass, improve bone quality, and lose "bad" fat, reports News-Medical . The researchers randomly assigned 96 older adults over 65 to follow either a six-month low-calorie meal plan that included more than 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, plus adequate calcium and vitamin D; or a plan aiming for 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, which is the current, government-recommended dietary allowance. Participants lost about 18 pounds, with fat comprising 87 percent of those lost pounds, while also preserving muscle mass. The control group lost about 0.5 pounds. Participants also maintained bone mass even when they lost weight, with trabecular bone scores apparently showing improvement. Meanwhile, participants lost fat in the stomach, hips, thighs, and rear, which is critical for preventing or controlling cardiometabolic diseases. In addition, participants' score on the Healthy Aging Index improved by 0.75 points.