The Effects of Weight-Loss Induced Aerobic Exercise on Depressive Symptoms in the Elderly

According to the world health organization, depression and obesity are among the leading disorders causing disability in older adults. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of weight-loss induced aerobic exercise on depressive symptoms in the elderly. Methods: The study was experimental. 563 elderly women were analyzed. Obesity and depression variables were measured at baseline and after a 1- year follow up intervention. Subjects were randomly assigned in intervention and control groups. The exercise intervention consisted of at least 45 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise 5 d/wk. for 12 months. Results: It was suggested that weight loss and no weight loss groups had a better result in depression score compared control group (respectively: p=0.001, p=0.01). Improvement in depression score of weight loss group was significantly more than no weight loss group (p=0.03). Percent body fat of weight loss group was significantly decreased compared to no weight loss and control groups (respectively; p=0.02, p=0.003). Visceral fat in intervention group (weight loss and no weight loss groups) was significantly improved compared to control group (respectively: p=0.001, p=0.03). Conclusion: The novel finding arising from this study is a significant decrease of depression levels in sedentary obese women, who were loosed more body fat (especially, visceral fat) by exercise, compared to control matched group. One possible reason may be related to significant decrease of overall obesity (percent body fat) and abdominal obesity (visceral fat) in this group. Conclusively, exercise also plays a key role in the treatment of depression and obesity.