Effects of a comprehensive intervention program, including hot bathing, on overweight adults: a randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Overweight and obesity are prevalent health concerns in middle-aged and older adults.
• Community-based interventions are crucial for managing weight and improving health in aging populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a comprehensive intervention program incorporating hot bathing on overweight community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults.
• To assess the effectiveness of exercise, diet, and hot bathing individually and in combination.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 66 Japanese adults (mean age 61.6 years) was conducted.
• Participants were assigned to four groups: exercise, diet, and hot bathing (Group A); exercise and diet (Group B); hot bathing (Group C); and control (Group D).
• Interventions lasted for 3 months, with Groups A and B attending classes twice weekly, and Groups A and C incorporating hot bathing.

Main Results:

• Group A demonstrated significant reductions in weight, abdominal circumference, body mass index, and body fat percentage compared to other groups.
• Lower extremity function, specifically walking speed, showed greater improvement in Groups A and B compared to Groups C and D.
• Group C, receiving only hot bathing, showed no significant improvements in measured parameters.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive intervention program integrating exercise, diet, and hot bathing shows promise for weight management in overweight older adults.
• Hot bathing as a standalone intervention may not be sufficient for significant weight reduction or functional improvement in this population.
• This study provides preliminary evidence supporting the utility of combined lifestyle interventions, including hot bathing, for community-based overweight management.