Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
Published on: July 5, 2017
Analysis of behavioral change techniques used in exercise and nutritional interventions targeting adults around
Paula Collazo-Castiñeira1, Macarena Sánchez-Izquierdo2, Lea Joanne Reiter3
1Geriatric Unit, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (IRYCIS), Ctra. de Colmenar Viejo, km. 9,100, 28034 Madrid, Spain; Psychology Department, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, C. Universidad Comillas, 3-5 28049 Madrid, Spain.
Background:
Sarcopenic obesity significantly burdens health and autonomy. Strategies to intervene in or prevent sarcopenic obesity generally focus on losing body fat and building or maintaining muscle mass and function. For a lifestyle intervention, it is important to consider psychological aspects such as behavioral change techniques (BCTs) to elicit a long-lasting behavioral change.
Purpose:
The study was carried out to analyze BCTs used in exercise and nutritional interventions targeting community-dwelling adults around retirement age with sarcopenic obesity.
Methods:
We conducted an analysis of articles cited in an existing systematic review on the effectiveness of exercise and nutritional interventions on physiological outcomes in community-dwelling adults around retirement age with sarcopenic obesity. We identified BCTs used in these studies by applying a standardized taxonomy.
Results:
Only nine BCTs were identified. Most BCTs were not used intentionally (82 %), and those used derived from the implementation of lifestyle components, such as exercise classes ("instructions on how to perform a behavior," "demonstration of the behavior," "behavioral practice/rehearsal," and "body changes"). Only two studies used BCTs intentionally to reinforce adherence in their interventions.
Conclusions:
Few studies integrated BCTs in lifestyle interventions for community-dwelling persons around retirement age with sarcopenic obesity. Future studies on interventions to counteract sarcopenic obesity should include well-established BCTs to foster adherence and, therefore, their effectiveness.
