Peer-Led Diet and Exercise for Healthy Aging

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Jeffrey P Beans, BS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: High cardiovascular risk, dementia, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a peer-led program can help older Veterans with multiple chronic health conditions maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine. Peers, who share similar backgrounds and experiences, might facilitate the adoption of healthier lifestyles. The trial involves twice-weekly sessions focused on diet and exercise. It seeks older Veterans who struggle with activities like walking quickly or climbing stairs and have at least two chronic health issues, such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Participants should be able to speak English. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to research that could improve health outcomes for Veterans.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on diet and exercise, so you may not need to change your medications, but it's best to check with the trial organizers.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on diet and exercise, so it's best to discuss your medications with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this peer-led diet and exercise intervention is safe for older Veterans?

Research has shown that peer-led programs to improve diet and exercise are generally safe. A detailed review of 127 studies with over 10,000 participants found that home-based exercise programs are usually safe and well-received. These peer-led programs effectively boost physical activity and improve eating habits without major safety issues. They often use simple methods like education and lifestyle changes, suggesting they are safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Peer-Led Diet and Exercise Intervention because it offers a community-based approach to healthy aging that stands out from traditional, individual-focused strategies. Unlike typical programs that may rely on healthcare professionals or self-guided plans, this intervention leverages peer support, making it more relatable and encouraging. By participating in group activities twice a week, individuals are likely to feel more motivated and accountable, which could lead to better adherence and outcomes. This approach not only aims to improve physical health but also fosters social connections, which are crucial for overall well-being as we age.

What evidence suggests that this peer-led diet and exercise intervention is effective for healthy aging?

Research has shown that peer-led programs can improve the health of older adults through diet and exercise. In this trial, participants will engage in peer-led diet and exercise interventions twice a week. One study found that these activities enhanced participants' physical abilities, increasing their mobility. Another review found that such programs increased physical activity and quality of life, especially in community settings. Exercise activities also improved balance, which is crucial for preventing falls. These findings suggest that peer-led programs could help older Veterans achieve their health goals with relatable, community-focused support. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Odessa R. Addison, PhD DPT

Principal Investigator

Baltimore VA Medical Center VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older Veterans who struggle with activities like walking quickly, climbing stairs, or standing up without support and have at least two chronic conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, diabetes). They must speak English and not be on home oxygen, involved in other weight loss programs, exercising regularly, or have certain mental health conditions.

Inclusion Criteria

I have at least two long-term health issues like high blood pressure or diabetes.

I struggle with activities like walking quickly, climbing stairs, or getting up without using my arms.

Speaks English

Exclusion Criteria

Regular exercise participation

I do not have acute psychosis, major depression, or behavior issues that prevent me from interacting in groups.

Contraindications to an exercise intervention

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in a 12-week peer-led diet and exercise intervention

12 weeks

2 visits per week (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Peer-Led Diet and Exercise Intervention

Trial Overview The study is testing a new program where fellow Veterans lead diet and exercise interventions. The goal is to see if this peer-led approach helps participants stick to healthy eating habits and physical activity routines better than traditional methods.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Peer led diet and exercise intervention Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

participation in two-times per week diet and exercise peer led interventions.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 12-week peer-led exercise program significantly improved physical function in adults aged 50 and above, with notable enhancements in tests like the chair stand and 6-minute walk test.

Participants in the intervention group also reported lower stress levels and better perceived health, indicating psychosocial benefits, although there were no significant changes in metabolic health compared to the control group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer-led exercise program for ageing adults to improve physical functions - a randomized trial. Bouchard, DR., Olthuis, JV., Bouffard-Levasseur, V., et al.[2021]

The study aims to test the feasibility of a peer-led physical activity intervention for older adults from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, using a randomized controlled trial design over 12 weeks with follow-up at 6 months.

Data collected will assess recruitment, retention, and the effectiveness of the intervention in increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity, which is crucial for informing a larger definitive trial if the pilot proves successful.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Walk with Me: a protocol for a pilot RCT of a peer-led walking programme to increase physical activity in inactive older adults. Tully, MA., Cunningham, C., Cupples, ME., et al.[2022]

A peer-led training program for chronic patients, involving 964 participants with conditions like diabetes, fibromyalgia, and heart failure, significantly improved health status, leading to reduced activity limitations and better dietary and physical activity habits.

The effectiveness of the training varied based on social factors such as sex, education level, and marital status, highlighting the need for tailored approaches to meet the specific needs of vulnerable groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Differential impact and heterogeneous needs. A peer-led training program for improving chronic patients' health status and health behaviors]. Danet Danet, A., Prieto Rodríguez, MÁ., Toro Cárdenas, SM., et al.[2023]

A self-sustainable and self-organizing physical activity intervention for older adults, implemented by peer coaching, showed positive health effects, including a significant increase in quality of life and improved walking distance over two years.

The intervention was feasible with a low initial investment and high retention rate (86.4%), demonstrating its potential as a scalable solution to enhance physical activity among older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-organizing peer coach groups to increase daily physical activity in community dwelling older adults. van de Vijver, P., Schalkwijk, F., Numans, ME., et al.[2020]

Peer interventions can effectively reduce body weight, with an average decrease of 1.05 kg observed in a meta-analysis of 28 studies involving 7142 participants.

These interventions also led to a significant reduction in waist circumference and an increase in physical activity, although they did not significantly affect energy intake, indicating a potential benefit in managing obesity-related outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer-supported lifestyle interventions on body weight, energy intake, and physical activity in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lim, S., Lee, WK., Tan, A., et al.[2021]

Older adults perceive effective peer leaders in physical activity programs as optimistic, compassionate, and friendly, highlighting the importance of interpersonal qualities in leadership roles.

The study involved a diverse group of 101 participants aged 60 and older, including experienced and inexperienced walkers and peer leaders, providing valuable insights that can enhance training and recruitment strategies for peer-led interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effective Peer Leader Attributes for the Promotion of Walking in Older Adults. Kritz, M., Thøgersen-Ntoumani, C., Mullan, B., et al.[2021]

The researchers developed a clear typology of peer-based intervention strategies aimed at promoting physical activity among older adults, addressing the need for consistent terminology and frameworks in this area.

They provided practical guidelines for designing and implementing these peer-based programs, which can help improve participation rates in physical activity among older adults by leveraging peer support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer-Based Strategies to Support Physical Activity Interventions for Older Adults: A Typology, Conceptual Framework, and Practice Guidelines. Matz-Costa, C., Howard, EP., Castaneda-Sceppa, C., et al.[2020]

Peer education models effectively deliver health information and can influence knowledge and behavior, particularly in community-based fall prevention interventions for older adults.

The involvement of senior volunteers as peer educators shows promise in promoting health among older populations, although the paper discusses both the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using senior volunteers as peer educators: What is the evidence of effectiveness in falls prevention? Peel, NM., Warburton, J.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7883995/

Community-Based Peer-Led Intervention for Healthy ... For the SPPB scores, there was overall significant improvement from 9.7 to 10.3, although improvement was most significant in the groups led by ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1568163725001308

Exploring the impact of community-based interventions on ... This systematic review evaluates whether and how different types of interventions within community-based settings could benefit specific aspects of older ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7858023/

Exercise interventions for older adults: A systematic review ... In relation to balance, it was found that multimodal exercise significantly improved dynamic standing balance in healthy individuals (SMD = 0.46; p < 0.01).

4. ggaging.com ggaging.com/details/1844/en-US/characteristics-of-peer-led-physical-activity-programs-for-older-adults--a-scoping-review

Characteristics of peer-led physical activity programs for ... This scoping review investigates peer-led programs as a strategy to promote physical activity (PA) among older adults.

5. ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-022-01309-w

results from the PEP4PA cluster randomized controlled trial Conclusions. PEP4PA achieved increases in MVPA and PQoL in low-income older adults, over 2 years of follow up. The peer-led, community-based ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11965182/

Peer Intervention in Obesity and Physical Activity This paper reports the effectiveness of peer intervention in physical activity and obesity, with a focus on implementation.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12166173/

Effectiveness of Peer-Led Interventions in Improving the ... In this review we synthesized evidence on the effectiveness of peer-led interventions in improving the dietary behavior of adolescents in low and middle-income ...

8. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41598-025-01053-8

Effectiveness of peer-led health behaviour interventions on ... This systematic review examined controlled trials of school-based, peer-led lifestyle interventions (physical activity, diet, or sleep) reporting mental health ...

9. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11764-025-01778-5

Feasibility, safety, and adherence of home-based exercise ... From 127 eligible studies involving 10,562 participants, the review found that home-based exercise interventions are generally safe, with less ...

10. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06408493?cond=Diseases%20of%20poverty&aggFilters=status:not%20rec%20ava&viewType=Table&rank=1

Peer-led Digital Health Lifestyle Intervention for a Low ... Also called a data safety and monitoring board, or DSMB. ... Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and ...