Enhancing Weight Gain in Long-Term Care Residents at Risk for Weight Loss through Protein and Calorie Fortification.

• Main Author: Tolbert, Shannon Marie
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2004
• Subjects: weight loss; elderly; fortified foods; nutritional supplements; malnutrition; Human and Clinical Nutrition; Life Sciences; Nutrition
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/879; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2036&context=etd

Purpose of this study was to compare two methods of supplementing diets in order to provide additional protein and calories to increase body weight. The study consisted of two groups from the James H. Quillen Veterans Affair Medical Center Nursing Home Care Unit. Experimental group received foods fortified with increased calories and protein at mealtimes. Control group received nutrition supplements between meals. Fifteen subjects began the study. Analysis of weight change revealed that those in the experimental group had no weight change over the four months. Subjects in the control group gained an average of 4.8 lbs of body weight in the same period. The Mann-Whitney Test was used to determine if the weight changes were significantly different between groups. Analysis indicated that (p-value = 0.2550) there was no significant difference in body weight gain between the groups. A larger sample size would have improved the outcome of the study.