Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Obesity is a complex and multifactorial condition that associated with several cardiometabolic complications such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Several weight-loss strategies have been developed and tested over time and the majority of results suggest that a significant weight loss should be accompanied by an improvement in cardiometabolic profile. Results of our laboratory showed, however, that a significant loss of body weight and fat mass could translate into unexpected physiological responses for some subgroups of older adults. Actually, it is difficult to explain this paradox. However, we hypothesis that variability in the metabolic responses followed the weight loss intervention could be in part explained by the generalization of the intervention without taking into account the physiological, biological and socio-psychological differences between obese and older adults. Hence, objectives of this study were: 1) to identify homogeneous sub-phenotypes of obese older adults (same characteristics and needs) by using a multi-informational approach and cluster analysis method and 2) to fellow up the trajectory of these phenotypes to assess their stability over 3 years and factors contributing to transitions. Results showed that beyond BMI, obese older adults could be classified into three distinct phenotypes: healthy obese, obese with low physical capacity and unhealthy obese. Decrease in physical function was the most implicated factor in the deterioration of older men health profile, whereas physical and psychological functions were implicated in women. In conclusion, this study showed that despite the same BMI, obese older individuals could be classified into three homogenous phenotypes and to prevent further health decline, physical function in men and physical and psychological function in women should be targeted. Further studies are needed to investigate association between clusters and cardiometabolic complications.