How physical activity affects sarcopenia in obese people with diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Accelerated sarcopaenia in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Does it simply reflect increased sedentary behaviour and reduced physical activity or do other mechanisms explain it?
IRAS ID
140609
Contact name
Daniel Cuthbertson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Research summary
Obesity and diabetes are increasingly significant public health problems. Older adults with diabetes have an increased risk of physical disability, leading to increased difficulty in carrying out simple activities of daily living. This could be explained by our theory that they have the tendency to lose muscle mass more quickly than those without diabetes.
The aim of our study is to determine if there is any relationship in the activity levels of older obese adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on muscle mass, compared with equally obese adults without diabetes. We want to determine if there is a mechanism that is independent of physical activity that causes this group of individuals to lose muscle mass more quickly and to identify these potential mechanisms.
This study will be carried out at University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool and will last for 10 months.
164 (60 males and 104 females) participants will be recruited across Liverpool from primary care, community diabetes clinics and from weight management clinics at University Hospital Aintree. 82 participants will have a diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with body mass index of 30 - 50 kg/m2 , and 82 participants will be healthy obese controls.
Participants who are eligible for this study will be males or females, with BMI of 30 - 50 kg/m2, aged 50-80 who are independently mobile. Analysis will be conducted on the subjects using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), strength measurements, blood tests and interpretation of activity levels using activity monitors. Past medical history and lifestyle information will be collected using a detailed questionaire.
A further 60 participants (15 from each group) will be invited to undergo MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the legs for assessment of total leg muscle mass. This is to compare the use of DEXAs and MRIs in accurately determining muscle mass
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/0051
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion