Managing sarcopenic obesity in older adults through diet and exercise

Effects of an Individualized Dietary Behavioural Change (IDBC) Programme and Exercise Training in Combination or Separately on Managing Sarcopenic Obesity in Community-dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Not applicable Interventional The Hong Kong Polytechnic University · NCT05734755

This study is testing whether changes in diet and exercise can help older adults with sarcopenic obesity build muscle and lose fat.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment380 (estimated)
Ages65 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Hong Kong)
Trial IDNCT05734755 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of a dietary behavioral change program and exercise training on managing sarcopenic obesity in older adults. It aims to improve muscle mass and reduce fat mass by incorporating behavior change techniques based on the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model to enhance participants' self-efficacy. The study will include community-dwelling older individuals aged over 65 who meet specific diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity. Participants will engage in either dietary interventions, exercise training, or a combination of both to assess the most effective approach.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are community-dwelling older adults aged over 65 who meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity.

Not a fit: Patients who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity or have significant hearing and vision problems may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved health outcomes and quality of life for older adults suffering from sarcopenic obesity.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been limited trials focusing on sarcopenic obesity, the approach of combining dietary and exercise interventions is promising and has shown success in related areas.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. community-dwelling older people aged \> 65 years
2. who meet the diagnostic criteria of sarcopenic obesity according to the Asian Sarcopenia Working Group (ASWG)41 and the WHO definition of obesity for the Asian population, respectively: 2a) Early stage sarcopenia refers to the fulfillment of one of the following criteria: low handgrip strength \< 28 kg for men and \< 18 kg for women, low muscle quality as reflected by low appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) /height squared \< 7 kg/m2 for men and \<5.7 kg/m2 for women, or low physical performance with a Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score of \< 9; 2b) Obesity refers to the fulfillment of one of the following criteria: BMI ≥ 23kg/m2 or waist circumference ≥ 90 cm in men and ≥ 80 cm in women, or percentage of body fat \> 30%;
3. able to communicate, read, and write in Chinese without significant hearing and vision problems to ensure that our instructions are understood.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. those with any form of disease or condition that might affect food intake and digestion (such as severe heart or lung diseases, renal diseases, diabetes, cancer, or autoimmune diseases);
2. taking medications that may influence eating behaviour, digestion, or metabolism (such as weight loss medication);
3. being addicted to alcohol, which might affect the effort to change dietary behaviour;
4. having impaired mobility, which might affect participation in exercise training, as defined by a modified Functional Ambulatory Classification score of \< 7; ) having any medical implant device such as a pacemaker, because low-level currents will flow through the body when doing the bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA by InBody s10, Korea), which may cause the device to malfunction.

Where this trial is running

Hong Kong

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Sarcopenic ObesityDietary interventionBehavioural ChangeLifestyle interventionRCT
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.