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Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dynapenia and metabolic risk factors in obese and nonobese older adults. Methods A total of 1453 men and women (age ≥70 years) from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study were categorized as (1) nondynapenic/nonobese (NDYN-NO), (2) dynapenic/nonobese (DYN-NO), (3) nondynapenic/obese (NDYN-O), or (4) dynapenic/obese (DYN-O), based on muscle strength (Foundation for the National Institute of Health criteria) and body mass index. Dependent variables were blood lipids, fasting glucose, blood pressure, presence of at least 3 metabolic syndrome (MetS) criteria, and other chronic conditions. Results A significantly higher likelihood of having abdominal obesity criteria in NDYN-NO compared with DYN-NO groups (55.6 vs 45.1%, P ≤ .01) was observed. Waist circumference also was significantly higher in obese groups (DYN-O = 114.0 ± 12.9 and NDYN-O = 111.2 ± 13.1) than in nonobese (NDYN-NO = 93.1 ± 10.7 and DYN-NO = 92.2 ± 11.2, P ≤ .01); and higher in NDYN-O compared with DYN-O ( P = .008). Additionally, NDYN-O demonstrated higher diastolic blood pressure compared with DYN-O (70.9 ± 10.1 vs 67.7 ± 9.7, P ≤ .001). No significant differences were found across dynapenia and obesity status for all other metabolic components ( P > .05). The odds of having MetS or its individual components were similar in obese and nonobese, combined or not with dynapenia (nonsignificant odds ratio [95% confidence interval]). Conclusion Nonobese dynapenic older adults had fewer metabolic disease risk factors than nonobese and nondynapenic older adults. Moreover, among obese older adults, dynapenia was associated with lower risk of meeting MetS criteria for waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure. Additionally, the presence of dynapenia did not increase cardiometabolic disease risk in either obese or nonobese older adults.

OBJECTIVES: To describe several recruitment parametersderived from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independencefor Elders pilot (LIFE-P) study for use in a full-scale trial ofmobility disability prevention.DESIGN: A description of the recruiting methods andbaseline characteristics of a four-site randomized, con-trolled trial testing the effectiveness of a physical activityintervention at preventing mobility disability.SETTING: The Cooper Institute, Dallas, Texas; StanfordUniversity, Stanford, California; University of Pittsburgh,Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania;andWakeForestUniversity,Win-ston-Salem, North Carolina.PARTICIPANTS: Community-livingpersonsaged70to89whowereabletowalk400mwithin15minutesandwereathigh risk for disability (scoringo10 on the Short PhysicalPerformance Battery (SPPB)) but without comorbidity se-vere enough to preclude full study participation.MEASUREMENTS: Measures of efficiency includednum-ber of randomized participants per recruitment techniqueand costsper randomized participantacross randomizationtechniques.RESULTS: The 9-month recruiting period resulted in3,141 telephone screens, of which 424 (13.5%) partici-pants were randomized (68.9% women, 25.7% minorities,41.5% with SPPB scoreso8). Forty percent of telephone-screened participants were excluded primarily because ofregular participation in physical activity, health exclusions,or self-reported mobility disability. Of the 1,252 personsattempting the physical performance assessments, 41%scored above the SPPB cutoff. Of the 566 remaining eligi-ble, 9.9% could not complete the 400-m walk, and another18.9% had various medical exclusions. Direct mailing wasthe most productive recruitment strategy (61.6% of allrandomized participants). Recruitment cost approximately$439 per randomized participant.CONCLUSION: The LIFE study achieved all recruitmentgoals and demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting high-risk community-dwelling older persons for trials of disabi-lity prevention in diverse geographic areas. J Am GeriatrSoc 55:674–683, 2007.Key words: recruitment; clinical trials; prevention ofmobility disability; physical activity

To evaluate the extent of variability in functional responses in participants in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study and to identify the relative contributions of intervention adherence, physical activity, and demographic and health characteristics to this variability.Secondary analysis.Multicenter institutions.A volunteer sample (N=1635) of sedentary men and women aged 70 to 89 years who were able to walk 400m but had physical limitations, defined as a Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score of ≤9.Moderate-intensity physical activity (n=818) consisting of aerobic, resistance, and flexibility exercises performed both center-based (2times/wk) and home-based (3-4times/wk) sessions or health education program (n=817) consisting of weekly to monthly workshops covering relevant health information.Physical function (gait speed over 400m) and lower extremity function (SPPB score) assessed at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months.Greater baseline physical function (gait speed, SPPB score) was negatively associated with change in gait speed (regression coefficient β=-.185; P.001) and change in SPPB score (β=-.365; P.001), whereas higher number of steps per day measured by accelerometry was positively associated with change in gait speed (β=.035; P.001) and change in SPPB score (β=.525; P.001). Other baseline factors associated with positive change in gait speed and/or SPPB score include younger age (P.001), lower body mass index (P.001), and higher self-reported physical activity (P=.002).Several demographic and physical activity-related factors were associated with the extent of change in functional outcomes in participants in the LIFE study. These factors should be considered when designing interventions for improving physical function in older adults with limited mobility.