REPOWER
The REPOWER project investigates the role of protein and exercise to maintain muscle mass and function during weight loss in older adults.
Accompanying an ageing population is an increasing prevalence of older adults (>65 years) living with overweight or obesity. Despite weight loss being recommended to treat obesity, weight loss can accelerate muscle deterioration in older adults, typically accounting for 25% of weight lost.
Without appropriate intervention, older adults with obesity pursuing weight loss display reductions in muscle mass, accelerating the decline in muscle function and independence, and increasing the risk of co-morbidities. Exercise training is important for slowing the decline in muscle mass during weight loss, but a reduction in muscle mass still occurs.
This project aims to determine the effect of a higher protein intake combined with exercise training on muscle mass and skeletal muscle protein turnover during a 4-week period of weight loss in older adults with obesity.
This project involves: supervised exercise, meal planning, food provision, blood, muscle, urine and saliva sampling, body composition and metabolic profile assessment and financial reimbursement.
Participate in the study
We’re recruiting older adults for a study on diet and exercise for metabolic health and body composition during weight loss. Over approximately five weeks, you will be asked to attend six testing visits and 12 exercise sessions at the University of Birmingham. The testing visits involve different assessments of your overall health, including resting energy expenditure, body composition, tissue sampling, metabolic health profiling, fitness, muscle strength and physical performance.
The study is separated into two phases: a baseline phase (one week) and a diet and exercise programme phase (four weeks). During the programme you will be provided with individualised meals and foods to eat and will complete supervised exercise sessions using specialist equipment. Your participation will help advance our understanding around the role of diet and exercise during weight loss in older adults.
Who can participate?
- Men or women aged 65-80 years
- BMI 28 kg/m2 or above (weight/height2)
- Healthy and non-smoker
- Weight stable (less than 2 kg weight change in the past 6 months)
- Please get in touch with us to find out more.
What is involved?
- 35 day diet and exercise programme (21-day provided diet)
- Supervised training 3 times/week at the University of Birmingham
- Body composition assessment via DXA
- Blood, muscle, sallvia and urine sampling
What are the benefits?
- Learn about your body composistion, strength, fitness and metabolic health profile (results avaiable after the study)
- Individualised diet and supervised exercise programme
- Compensated up to £100 for your participation
If you are interested in participating in this exciting study, please get in touch with us.
Members of the team
Members of the team
Principal investigator
Professor Leigh Breen is a leading expert in the field of skeletal muscle physiology and metabolism. His research has focused on the regulatory mechanisms of human skeletal muscle remodeling, alongside translational in vitro cell approaches.
Lead researcher
Archie Belfield
Archie completed his BSc (hons) and MRes in Sport, Exercise and Health Science at the University of Birmingham, specialising in exercise physiology and protein metabolism. He has a passion for exploring lifestyle strategies to maintain skeletal muscle health under catabolic states, such as with advancing age or with obesity.
Email: AEB845@student.bham.ac.uk
Get in touch
- Email: REPOWER@contacts.bham.ac.uk
- Telephone: 07955 952133
Write to us at REPOWER Study, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, West Midlands, B15 2TT.