Effects of the EatWelLog® Mobile Application for Managing Sarcopenic Obesity Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
- 1School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- 2School of Architecture and Design, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150006, China
- 3Department of Biomedical, Health and Exercise Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne 3122, Australia
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Exercise combined with a hypocaloric high-protein diet is recommended for sarcopenic obesity (SO), yet accessible dietary support remains limited. EatWelLog®, a mobile health (mHealth) nutrition application, was developed to facilitate dietary self-management. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an EatWelLog®-supported lifestyle intervention for community-dwelling older adults with SO. Methods: In this two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), 40 adults aged ≥65 years at risk of SO were randomized to Conventional Supervised (CS) or mHealth-supported (MH) groups. Both groups received an 8-week intervention that included three individualized dietitian consultations, five group nutrition classes, and eight weekly 60 min multicomponent exercise sessions. The MH group also used EatWelLog® during the intervention and the 6-month follow-up. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), and at the 3-month (T2) and 6-month (T3) follow-ups. Results: Recruitment (48.8%) and attendance (83.3%) rates supported feasibility. Four participants in the MH group dropped out after the beginning of the intervention. The App demonstrated moderate-to-high acceptability. Between-group differences and group × time interactions were not detected for primary outcomes. Muscle strength improved from baseline to post-intervention in both groups, and physical performance showed improvements in MH across all follow-up assessments. Focus group participants valued the App’s dietary tracking, feedback, and reminders, though they identified limitations in food-recording functions. Conclusions: Findings support feasibility and acceptability, but strategies are needed to reduce attrition and improve compliance with recording diets. As this pilot was not powered for effectiveness, the App’s added benefit remains uncertain. A larger, adequately powered RCT is warranted.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026effects,
title = {{Effects of the EatWelLog® Mobile Application for Managing Sarcopenic Obesity Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial}},
author = {Justina Yat Wa Liu and Yixue Quan and Pui Ying Mak and Man Ki Law and Kenneth Ka Hei Lo and Tongyu Li and Jimmy Chun Yu Louie},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18193243},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667122},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of the EatWelLog® Mobile Application for Managing Sarcopenic Obesity Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
AU - Justina Yat Wa Liu
AU - Yixue Quan
AU - Pui Ying Mak
AU - Man Ki Law
AU - Kenneth Ka Hei Lo
AU - Tongyu Li
AU - Jimmy Chun Yu Louie
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18193243
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667122
AB - Background and Objectives: Exercise combined with a hypocaloric high-protein diet is recommended for sarcopenic obesity (SO), yet accessible dietary support remains limited. EatWelLog®, a mobile health (mHealth) nutrition application, was developed to facilitate dietary self-management. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an EatWelLog®-supported lifestyle intervention for community-dwelling older adults with SO. Methods: In this two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT), 40 adults aged ≥65 years at risk of SO were randomized to Conventional Supervised (CS) or mHealth-supported (MH) groups. Both groups received an 8-week intervention that included three individualized dietitian consultations, five group nutrition classes, and eight weekly 60 min multicomponent exercise sessions. The MH group also used EatWelLog® during the intervention and the 6-month follow-up. Outcomes were assessed at baseline (T0), immediately post-intervention (T1), and at the 3-month (T2) and 6-month (T3) follow-ups. Results: Recruitment (48.8%) and attendance (83.3%) rates supported feasibility. Four participants in the MH group dropped out after the beginning of the intervention. The App demonstrated moderate-to-high acceptability. Between-group differences and group × time interactions were not detected for primary outcomes. Muscle strength improved from baseline to post-intervention in both groups, and physical performance showed improvements in MH across all follow-up assessments. Focus group participants valued the App’s dietary tracking, feedback, and reminders, though they identified limitations in food-recording functions. Conclusions: Findings support feasibility and acceptability, but strategies are needed to reduce attrition and improve compliance with recording diets. As this pilot was not powered for effectiveness, the App’s added benefit remains uncertain. A larger, adequately powered RCT is warranted.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -