Effects of a 12-week unsupervised and adapted physical activity prescription on physical per-formance in geriatric outpatients with overweight or obesity: the PACE tool
- 1University of Quebec at Montreal
Abstract
BackgroundSarcopenia and obesity often coexist in older adults and are associated with higher functional decline, disability, and reduced quality of life. Although physical activity (PA) is protective, prescription and adherence to exercise programs remains low in this population. Pragmatic and scalable interventions are therefore needed. Thus, we evaluated the effects of a 12-week unsupervised PA prescription program on physical performance in overweight/obese frail geriatric outpatients.
MethodsA single-arm interventional study was conducted among geriatric outpatients aged [≥]60 years. Thirty-seven overweight/obese participants (20 women) completed the 12-week home-based PACE prescription which included individualized functional and resistance exercises with walking. Physical performance [i.e. functional capacity (SPPB), walking speed, Timed Up and Go (TUG), lower-limb muscle endurance (30-STS) and function (5-STS)], clinical status (probable sarcopenia, fall risk, walking speed) and clinically meaningful changes were assessed.
ResultsParticipants achieved 238 {+/-} 140 min/week of PA on average, with 65% meeting recommended PA guidelines. Significant improvements were observed in lower-limb muscle function (p=0.033) and endurance (p=0.006) and in absolute (p=0.038) or relative (p=0.045) estimated muscle power. The prevalence of probable sarcopenia decreased significantly following the intervention (p=0.011). Clinically meaningful improvements were observed in muscle endurance (p<0.001) and functional status (p=0.040).
ConclusionIn overweight/obese frail geriatric outpatients, the prescription of PACE achieved high PA adherence and improved lower-limb muscle function. Integrating this pragmatic and personalized PA strategy into routine geriatric care may support healthy aging and help prevent sarcopenia-obesity related functional decline.
Key pointsO_LIA 12-week unsupervised and adapted PA prescription (PACE tool) is feasible in frail geriatric outpatients with overweight or obesity. C_LIO_LIHigh adherence was achieved, with 65% of participants meeting or exceeding PA recommendations, alongside significant improvements observed in lower-limb muscle function (power and endurance). C_LIO_LIThe intervention led to a clinically meaningful reduction in probable sarcopenia prevalence. C_LIO_LIPACE could represent a pragmatic and scalable strategy to improve functional outcomes in overweight/obese geriatric population. C_LI
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BibTeX
@misc{eloueslati2026effects,
title = {{Effects of a 12-week unsupervised and adapted physical activity prescription on physical per-formance in geriatric outpatients with overweight or obesity: the PACE tool}},
author = {H. El-Oueslati and L. Youssef and F. Ruiz and L. Boucher and T. Tannou and C. Brodeur and F. A. Andriamampionona and M.-J. Kergoat and M. Aubertin-Leheudre},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.06.26359363},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.06.26359363v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Effects of a 12-week unsupervised and adapted physical activity prescription on physical per-formance in geriatric outpatients with overweight or obesity: the PACE tool
AU - H. El-Oueslati
AU - L. Youssef
AU - F. Ruiz
AU - L. Boucher
AU - T. Tannou
AU - C. Brodeur
AU - F. A. Andriamampionona
AU - M.-J. Kergoat
AU - M. Aubertin-Leheudre
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/06
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.06.26359363
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.06.26359363v1
AB - BackgroundSarcopenia and obesity often coexist in older adults and are associated with higher functional decline, disability, and reduced quality of life. Although physical activity (PA) is protective, prescription and adherence to exercise programs remains low in this population. Pragmatic and scalable interventions are therefore needed. Thus, we evaluated the effects of a 12-week unsupervised PA prescription program on physical performance in overweight/obese frail geriatric outpatients. MethodsA single-arm interventional study was conducted among geriatric outpatients aged [≥]60 years. Thirty-seven overweight/obese participants (20 women) completed the 12-week home-based PACE prescription which included individualized functional and resistance exercises with walking. Physical performance [i.e. functional capacity (SPPB), walking speed, Timed Up and Go (TUG), lower-limb muscle endurance (30-STS) and function (5-STS)], clinical status (probable sarcopenia, fall risk, walking speed) and clinically meaningful changes were assessed. ResultsParticipants achieved 238 {+/-} 140 min/week of PA on average, with 65% meeting recommended PA guidelines. Significant improvements were observed in lower-limb muscle function (p=0.033) and endurance (p=0.006) and in absolute (p=0.038) or relative (p=0.045) estimated muscle power. The prevalence of probable sarcopenia decreased significantly following the intervention (p=0.011). Clinically meaningful improvements were observed in muscle endurance (p<0.001) and functional status (p=0.040). ConclusionIn overweight/obese frail geriatric outpatients, the prescription of PACE achieved high PA adherence and improved lower-limb muscle function. Integrating this pragmatic and personalized PA strategy into routine geriatric care may support healthy aging and help prevent sarcopenia-obesity related functional decline. Key pointsO_LIA 12-week unsupervised and adapted PA prescription (PACE tool) is feasible in frail geriatric outpatients with overweight or obesity. C_LIO_LIHigh adherence was achieved, with 65% of participants meeting or exceeding PA recommendations, alongside significant improvements observed in lower-limb muscle function (power and endurance). C_LIO_LIThe intervention led to a clinically meaningful reduction in probable sarcopenia prevalence. C_LIO_LIPACE could represent a pragmatic and scalable strategy to improve functional outcomes in overweight/obese geriatric population. C_LI
ER -