Do you ever want to know how the elderly with knee osteoarthritis who participate in weight loss research testing feels? Media people were urged just to.

Stephen Messier, professor of health and exercise science at Wake Forest University, is conducting a long-term study on the benefits of weight loss and exercise for osteoarthritis sufferers. Ten sets of participants commit to the study for 18 months. Each set includes up to 45 participants, who are divided into three groups: those receiving only weight-loss assistance, those undergoing a specific exercise regimen, and a third group going through both. The study began in January with the first set of 45 participants. The third set of participants joined the study July 9.

The study is called Intensive Diet and Exercise for Arthritis or IDEA and it aims to improve the quality of life and independence of osteoarthritis patients.

Full press release here.

[image from frogdeck]

Tags: osteoarthritis, weight loss study, media