COMPASS 65+ - Community-based Physical Activity Snacks for Healthy Aging in Overweight and Obese Aged Adults
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age65+
SponsorUniversity of Coimbra
About this trial
This study will explore a new way for older adults to become more physically active. As people get older, it's common to gain weight and lose muscle strength. This combination can make it harder to do daily activities, increase the risk of falls, and impact overall quality of life. While we know that regular exercise is very beneficial, many older adults find it difficult to stick to traditional exercise programs due to lack of time, motivation, or energy.
This research project, called COMPASS 65+, will test an innovative approach called "snack exercise." Instead of one long workout, "snack exercise" involves doing several short bouts of activity, a few minutes at a time, throughout the day. The main idea is that these short, frequent bouts of activity might be easier to fit into a daily routine and less tiring than longer exercise sessions.
The purpose of this study is to see if a "snack exercise" program is a feasible and enjoyable way for adults aged 65 and over, who are overweight or obese, to improve their health. The study will be conducted in two main parts. First, the research team will talk with older adults to understand what helps or hinders them from being active to co-design the program. Second, volunteers will be randomly assigned to either a "snack exercise" group or a control group.
Participants in the "snack exercise" group will attend sessions that combine theory and practice to learn how to perform these exercises and will receive individualized prescriptions to perform the "snacks" (short bouts) at home. The control group will receive a brief educational counselling session on physical activity. Participants' health status, body composition, and physical fitness will be assessed at baseline, after the 12 weeks intervention, and again 6 weeks post-intervention to evaluate the maintenance of any improvements. These outcomes will help determine whether short bouts of 'exercise snacking' constitute a feasible and effective strategy to promote functional capacity, metabolic health, and long-term adherence to physical activity.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
adults aged ≥65 years with a BMI ≥25 kg/m².
Disqualifiers
significant cognitive deficits,
contraindications to exercise (assessed via PAR-Q+),
major cardiovascular events within the last 3 months,
unstable chronic disease,
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
Group-based "Snack Exercise" Training and Prescription
BehavioralThis programme consists of supervised, group-based sessions (2-3 per week, \~45 minutes each) combining concise theoretical instruction with guided practical execution of the snack-exercise protocol. Sessions are delivered by a qualified exercise professional and focus on teaching correct technique, safety, and progression of the prescribed short exercise bouts ("exercise snacks"). At the end of each session, participants receive an individualized home-based exercise prescription, tailored to their functional capacity and progression markers. Exercise intensity during supervised and home practice is monitored using the OMNI-BORG perceived exertion scale, progressing from light to moderate intensity, in accordance with World Health Organization recommendations.
Brief educational counseling session
BehavioralA standardized brief educational counseling session delivered by trained research personnel during the baseline assessment. This session will provide foundational information on the benefits of physical activity for healthy aging and offer practical strategies for incorporating short "physical activity snacks" into daily routines. This ensures a consistent educational baseline for both study arms.
Treatment groups
60 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Brief educational counselling sessionActive comparator 1 intervention
Group B: Brief educational counselling session + Group-based "Snack Exercise" training and prescriptionActive comparator 2 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Recruitment Rate (Reach)
The percentage of eligible individuals who consent to participate in the study out of all individuals invited. This will be a measure of the reach and appeal of the intervention and study design.
Time frame
From the start of recruitment until the target sample size is reached (approximately 2 months).2
Adherence to the "Snack Exercise" Program (Effectiveness)
The percentage of scheduled "snack exercise" sessions attended by participants in the intervention group. Adherence will be calculated as (number of sessions attended / total number of scheduled sessions) x 100. This measures the effectiveness of the program in engaging participants.
Time frame
Throughout the 12-week intervention period.3
Program Implementation Fidelity (Implementation)
The degree to which the "snack exercise" program is delivered as intended by the study protocol. This will be assessed by a checklist monitoring staff adherence to the protocol, including session content, duration, and intensity monitoring procedures. It will be measured as a percentage of protocol items successfully delivered.
Time frame
Throughout the 12-week intervention period.4
Participant Retention Rate
The percentage of enrolled participants who complete all study assessments at all time points (T0, T1, and T2). This measures the overall acceptability of the study procedures and the ability to retain participants over the full duration.
Time frame
From baseline (T0) to the final follow-up assessment (T2) at 18 weeks.Secondary outcomes
1
Multidimensional Lifestyle and Health Status
Evaluated using the Healthy Lifestyle Assessment Toolkit, a comprehensive instrument that assesses multiple domains including cardiometabolic health (blood pressure), well-being, nutrition, mental health, sleep quality, and self-perceived health status. The toolkit identify risks and guide interventions, using systems like traffic light scores (green/yellow/orange) for feedback and promoting behavior change for better health outcomes.
Time frame
Assessed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1, 12 weeks), and follow-up (T2, 18 weeks).2
Daily Physical Activity Patterns
Objectively measured using a triaxial accelerometer (worn on the hip for 5-7 consecutive days). Participants will be instructed to wear the device during all waking hours, removing it only for water-based activities or sleeping. The accelerometers provided objective measures of daily movement patterns, including step count, time spent in different activity intensities, and sedentary behavior. This approach allow us to evaluate changes in physical activity levels throughout the intervention and to assess adherence.
Time frame
Assessed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1, 12 weeks), and follow-up (T2, 18 weeks).3
Body Composition - Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
Assessed using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) to measure changes in fat mass, lean mass, and bone mineral density.
Time frame
Assessed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1, 12 weeks), and follow-up (T2, 18 weeks).4
Anthropometrics - Height
Anthropometric measures including height - height in meters (m).
Time frame
Assessed at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1, 12 weeks), and follow-up (T2, 18 weeks).Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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