Functional Fitness for Overweight or Obese Adults With Mobility Disabilities

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Mobility Limitation, Overweight or Obesity, Physical Disability

In brief

Over 64 million people in the U.S. have a permanent disability, with mobility-related disability (MRD) representing the most prevalent disability type (13.7%). Adults with MRD are 66% more likely to be overweight or obese than their non-disabled peers. Exercise in adults with MRD is important for weight management and is associated with improvements in obesity-related health conditions including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, insulin processing/sensitivity, etc. However, over half (57%) of adults with MRD do not exercise, while 22% engage in exercise of insufficient duration or intensity to obtain health benefits. Adults with MRD face numerous barriers to participation in community-based exercise, and exercise is frequently limited to short-term referrals for outpatient physical and/or occupational therapy. High-intensity functional training (HIFT) represents a potentially effective strategy for community-based exercise to support body weight and obesity-related health conditions, in addition to improving physical function and aspects of psychosocial health for people with disabilities. Preliminary evidence supports the effectiveness of HIFT to improve body composition, cardiovascular and muscular fitness, insulin processing and insulin sensitivity in non-disabled adults who are overweight/obese. To date, no study has systematically evaluated the feasibility or effectiveness of a community-based HIFT intervention for improving obesity-related health outcomes in overweight/obese adults with MRD. Thus, the proposed study will implement a 6-mo. pilot trial to evaluate the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a HIFT intervention (60 min sessions/3 days/wk.) in 25 adults with MRD and overweight/obesity. This study will address the following aims: Aim 1: Evaluate the intervention feasibility based on participant recruitment, session attendance, retention, outcome assessment completion, and the results of semi-structured exit interviews to obtain information regarding experience and overall satisfaction with the intervention. Aim 2: Evaluate changes (baseline - 6 mos.) in weight and fat-mass/fat-free mass, and components of the metabolic syndrome (waist circumference, blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose).

Key facts

Study ID: NCT05880966
Run by: University of Kansas
People needed: 25
Starts: 2023-04-17
Expected to finish: 2025-04-30
Last updated by the study team: 2026-05-12

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 64. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

18-64 years of age
Have a permanent disability that affects mobility (1 year +);
Body mass index between 24-52
Never been a part of a functional fitness program before
Have no significant health impairment that would contraindicate exercise (physician clearance required)
Serve as their own guardian

You may not qualify if…

Younger than 18 years of age or 65 years or older
Have a disability that was acquired within 1 year of starting the study or has a non-permanent mobility limitation (e.g., broken arm);
Have a body mass index less than 24 or greater than 52
Has previously been involved in functional fitness
Unable to obtain physician clearance
Are not their own guardian

Where it is running

University of Kansas — Lawrence, Kansas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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