200 Section - Exercise and Nutrition Compliance and Functional Outcomes in a Sarcopenia Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives : Sarcopenia is a major contributor to functional decline and disability in older adults. Tailored, progressive multimodal interventions—including structured aerobic/resistance exercise and nutrition programs—may improve physical function, but their effectiveness depends on individual compliance. This study aimed to (1) characterize compliance patterns across intervention components and (2) examine their associations with functional performance, specifically the 5-time chair stand test (5TSTS), after a 12-week intervention.

Design:

This study was nested within the MENTORS single-blind randomized controlled trial enrolling older adults with suspected sarcopenia. Participants (N = 168) were randomized to a 12-week exercise and nutrition counseling program (intervention) or usual care (control). Weekly compliance with aerobic and resistance exercise and nutritional goals was quantified using standardized diaries, and variables were averaged across 12 weeks. Between-group comparisons and correlation analyses evaluated associations between compliance and 5TSTS performance.

Results:

A total of 79 intervention and 76 control participants contributed valid compliance data. Over 12 weeks, mean resistance exercise compliance was significantly higher in the intervention group (5.1 ± 1.7 sessions/week) than in controls (3.4 ± 2.3 sessions/week; mean difference 1.70, 95% CI 1.07–2.33, p < 0.001). Aerobic exercise compliance was also higher in the intervention group (5.5 ± 1.4 vs. 4.6 ± 1.9 sessions/week; mean difference 0.84, 95% CI 0.31–1.37, p = 0.002). Nutrition adherence in the intervention group averaged 80.2% of prescribed intake and remained stable across weeks. Resistance exercise compliance declined modestly, while aerobic exercise compliance remained high. At week 12, 5TSTS performance did not differ significantly between groups. However, within-group analyses showed consistent negative correlations between adherence and 5TSTS time (r = –0.08 to –0.20), indicating that higher compliance was modestly associated with better functional performance.

Conclusion: These findings suggest high engagement across intervention components, with individual compliance—rather than group assignment—emerging as a key determinant of functional improvement.