Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Weight Loss and Obesity Management for Older Adults

Obesity prevalence is rapidly increasing among older adults, posing significant health challenges and emphasizing the need for more effective management strategies. However, obesity management in this population is complicated by age-related reductions in physiological reserve and function, which may increase musculoskeletal health risks and adversely affect quality of life. Recent advances in pharmacologic therapies, particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists and dual agonists, have rapidly transformed obesity management. However, these advances also raise concerns about the potential adverse effects of these therapies on musculoskeletal health among older adults, particularly given the limited research specifically addressing their long-term safety and effectiveness. Alongside these pharmacological approaches, complementary strategies, including nutritional interventions, physical activity programs and behavioral modifications remain essential components of comprehensive weight loss and obesity management strategies among older adults.

This Research Topic seeks to advance our understanding of the benefits, risks and practical implementation of various weight loss and obesity management strategies, encouraging innovative research toward effective, safe, and musculoskeletal health-preserving interventions for older adults.

Scope of Contributions:

We welcome submissions that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Studies examining the impact of diverse weight loss and obesity interventions - including pharmacologic agents, dietary interventions, physical activity programs, and behavioral modifications - on body composition, bone health, and physical function in older adults.

• Studies investigating how weight loss, regardless of the intervention type, influences muscle mass, anabolic resistance, sarcopenia, frailty, and other age-related physiological processes.

• Intervention studies or comprehensive reviews on multimodal strategies (e.g., combinations of exercise, nutritional interventions, behavioral counseling, and pharmacologic approaches) designed to mitigate musculoskeletal losses during weight loss.

• Studies examining outcomes of meaningful importance to older adults, such as mobility, quality of life, frailty, disability, and fall risk in relation to various weight management and obesity treatment methods.

• Epidemiological research assessing patterns and predictors of response, variability in outcomes, and subgroup analyses focusing on heterogeneity in older populations undergoing weight loss interventions.

• Studies exploring practical challenges and facilitators influencing the effectiveness and uptake of obesity management strategies in older adults.

All article types, including Original Research, Clinical Trial, Reviews, Case Reports, Brief Reports, Perspectives, Opinion articles, and Systematic Reviews, will be considered for publication.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Obesity Management in Older Adults, GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, Musculoskeletal Health, Weight Loss Interventions, Sarcopenia and Frailty

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.