Can Self-Management Strategies for Reducing Sedentary Behavior Combined With Multicomponent Training Improve the Body Composition of Older Adults? A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Authors

• Stefany Lee, Federal University of São Carlos
• Patricia Rehder Santos, Federal University of São Carlos
• Gabriela Cassemiliano, Federal University of São Carlos
• Vinícius Ramon da Silva Santos, Federal University of São Carlos
• Laura Bonome Message, Federal University of São Carlos
• Tainara Rodrigues dos Santos, Federal University of São Carlos
• Ana Claudia Silva Farche, Federal University of São Carlos
• Paulo Giusti Rossi, Federal University of São Carlos
• Juliana Hotta Ansai, Federal University of São Carlos
• Eduardo Ferriolli, University of São Paulo
• Natália Duarte Pereira, Federal University of São Carlos
• Guillermo Rúben Oviedo, Mississippi State University
• Myriam Guerra-Balic, Universitat Ramon Llull
• Maria Giné-Garriga, Universitat Ramon Llull
• Anielle Cristhine de Medeiros Takahashi, Federal University of São Carlos

ORCID

Lee: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2103-6160; Santos: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5838-6936; Cassemiliano: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9856-7037; da Silva Santos: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1690-228X; Message: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4068-6292; dos Santos: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6070-1269; Farche: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9502-1351; Rossi: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8052-3394; Ansai: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9873-3509; Ferriolli: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5028-2451; Pereira: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4395-589X; Oviedo: 0000-0002-0396-4185; Guerra-Balic: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9197-3179; Giné-Garriga: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4449-3524; de Medeiros Takahashi: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1263-2833

MSU Affiliation

College of Education; Department of Kinesiology

Creation Date

2026-04-29

Abstract

Background: Body composition changes during the aging process leads to an increase in fat mass and a decline in lean mass. Physical exercise can cause changes in body composition, but it is unclear whether reducing sedentary behavior (SB) also produces positive effects. Objective: To assess whether adopting self-management strategies (SMS) to reduce SB along with multicomponent training (MT) compared with a MT alone can improve the body composition of older adults who were physically active before the pandemic. Methods: A single-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial was performed. Forty-five older adults (73.6 ± 6.3 years, 73.3% females) were divided into two groups: MT, who only performed exercise, and MT + SMS group, who performed exercise along with SMS to reduce SB. MT included aerobic, resistance, balance and flexibility components three times a week, for a duration of 50 min/session. The SMS consisted of goals and weekly telephone follow-up calls for 16 weeks. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and the time spent in SB using the ActivPAL3 accelerometer. A generalized mixed linear model was performed in the software JAMOVI. Results: Both groups reduced time in SB (p < .001), increased lean mass index (p = .038), and reduced the fat mass index (p < .001) and fat mass percentage (p < .001). Conclusion: Implementing MT for older adults with characteristics similar to our study population may be sufficient to reduce SB and enhance body composition, as well as increase lean mass index, and decrease fat mass index. However, SMS to reduce SB did not potentiate the effects of MT on the body composition of older adults. Significance/Implications: Older adults can benefit from regular physical exercise.

Publication Date

8-28-2025

Publication Title

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity

Publisher

Human Kinetics

First Page

1

Last Page

8

Recommended Citation

Lee, S., Santos, P. R., Cassemiliano, G., da Silva Santos, V. R., Message, L. B., dos Santos, T. R., Silva Farche, A. C., Rossi, P. G., Ansai, J. H., Ferriolli, E., Pereira, N. D., Oviedo, G. R., Guerra-Balic, M., Giné-Garriga, M., & de Medeiros Takahashi, A. C. (2025). Can Self-Management Strategies for Reducing Sedentary Behavior Combined With Multicomponent Training Improve the Body Composition of Older Adults? A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity (published online ahead of print 2025). Retrieved Apr 13, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2024-0349