Sustainable Exercise and Nutrition Programs for Managing Metabolic Disorders in Older Women

N/AActive Not RecruitingNCT07015307

University of Alicante140 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to evaluate the impact of sustainable diet and exercise programs on metabolic health and quality of life in older women. Participants will be assigned to different intervention groups including supervised physical training, personalized dietary guidance based on the Mediterranean dietary pattern, or a combination of both. The programs will be implemented over several weeks, with continuous monitoring of variables such as body composition, functional capacity, strength, fatigue perception, sleep quality, and emotional well-being. The project also includes the development of a digital platform to support remote engagement and long-term health behavior change.

This is a multi-phase interventional study designed to evaluate the impact of sustainable dietary and physical activity programs on metabolic health, functional capacity, and quality of life in older women. The target population includes women aged 65 and older, both with and without metabolic alterations. The study comprises three phases: Phase 1 includes initial assessments and an observational comparison between healthy older women and those with metabolic alterations. Phase 2 implements three 12-week intervention programs: (1) a sustainable dietary strategy based on the Mediterranean diet, (2) a structured physical exercise program (both supervised and unsupervised), and (3) a combined intervention integrating both diet and exercise. Participants are assigned to groups based on their health status and intervention type. Phase 3 focuses on knowledge transfer through the development of practical guidelines and a digital platform to facilitate remote monitoring and promote long-term adherence to healthy behaviors. Primary and secondary outcomes include anthropometric measurements, body composition, handgrip strength, lower limb strength, walking speed, cardiovascular endurance, basal metabolic rate, blood pressure, blood biomarkers (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides), fatigue perception, sleep quality, stress levels, emotional well-being, and health-related quality of life. Validated tools such as indirect calorimetry, digital hand dynamometers, functional capacity tests, and the SF-36 questionnaire will be employed. The results are expected to support the design of sustainable, non-pharmacological strategies for the prevention and management of metabolic disorders and functional decline in aging women.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Interventions

Sustainable Diet ProgramBEHAVIORAL

Intervention based on the Mediterranean sustainable diet. It emphasizes the consumption of fish, fruits, and vegetables, while reducing the intake of meat and meat-derived products. The diet is tailored to the participants' health status, activity level, and nutritional requirements, following the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Cardiology and Endocrinology. Macronutrient and micronutrient goals follow national guidelines and are tracked using specialized dietary software.

Supervised Physical Exercise ProgramBEHAVIORAL

A 12-week supervised physical exercise program led by certified professionals in Sport Sciences. Exercise prescriptions are tailored individually based on baseline assessments and international guidelines from fields such as cardiology and metabolism. The sessions may include strength, endurance, or combined training. In the supervised period, the instructor guides the sessions, while during the unsupervised period, exercises are followed via an online platform that provides detailed explanations and graphics.

Combined Sustainable Diet and Exercise ProgramBEHAVIORAL

This experimental arm combines the dietary intervention based on the sustainable Mediterranean diet with the structured physical exercise program. Both components are personalized and adhere to national and international health and nutrition recommendations. The program includes a 12-week supervised phase and an unsupervised online phase, aiming to maximize improvements in metabolic, physical, and psychosocial health in older women with metabolic alterations.

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALEMin age: 65 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Female participants aged 65 years or older * Ability to walk independently or with assistive device * Capacity to provide informed consent * For groups with metabolic alterations: clinical diagnosis of metabolic syndrome based on standard criteria * For healthy volunteers: absence of diagnosed metabolic or cardiovascular disease Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed cognitive impairment or dementia * Unstable cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal condition * Participation in another structured lifestyle intervention during the study * Any medical contraindication for physical exercise * Severe mobility limitation preventing safe participation