# Developing an Automated Image Analysis and Finite Element Modeling Platform to Assess the Effects of Supplemental Protein and Weight Loss on Bone Health in Obese Older Adults

> **NIH NIH F31** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $45,520

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Over the past several decades, obesity has risen to epidemic proportions and now affects over 40% of older
adults in America. While intentional weight loss is a highly effective treatment for severe obesity and its
associated comorbidities, increasing evidence suggests it disrupts skeletal health and increases fracture risk.
Protein supplementation may reduce osteoporotic fracture risk and be effective in minimizing bone loss
associated with intentional weight loss among the aging population. An ongoing clinical trial at Wake Forest
University is exploring whether higher protein intake during a 6-month weight loss intervention followed by a 12-
month follow-up in obese older adults results in better 18-month bone health compared to recommended protein
intake or higher protein intake during the 6-month weight loss intervention only. This proposal enhances the
parent study assessment of bone health and fracture prediction by streamlining the collection of advanced 3D
bone measures from quantitative computed tomography (CT) and bone strength measures from finite element
(FE) modeling. Aim 1 will develop an automated imaging informatics platform to analyze baseline, 6-month, and
18-month participant CT scans to measure volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) and cortical thickness in the
hip. Aim 2 will use subject-specific FE modeling to assess longitudinal bone strength and predict fracture. Taken
together, these methodologic advancements will improve our understanding of how protein supplementation
affects bone quality. The findings of this analysis could also establish the plausibility of protein supplementation
as a clinically relevant therapeutic for attenuating bone loss and mitigating fracture risk in older adults undergoing
weight loss. This research will be conducted in the Center for Injury Biomechanics at the Wake Forest School of
Medicine as an interdisciplinary collaboration between the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Gerontology
and Geriatric Medicine, Radiology, and Biostatistics and Data Science. This fellowship will also serve as a unique
opportunity to train the predoctoral principal investigator in gerontology research, clinical trials design,
biostatistics, bone metabolism biology, image-based informatics, and computational biomechanics. Ultimately,
the project will refine the principal investigator's biomedical engineering skillset in image analysis and
computational modeling to provide valuable experience applying engineering techniques to improve bone health
in older adults.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10067719
- **Project number:** 1F31AG069414-01
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Katelyn Anne Greene
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,520
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-20 → 2023-08-19

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10067719

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10067719, Developing an Automated Image Analysis and Finite Element Modeling Platform to Assess the Effects of Supplemental Protein and Weight Loss on Bone Health in Obese Older Adults (1F31AG069414-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10067719. Licensed CC0.

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