SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Aging and Public Health
This article is part of the Research TopicBiomechanics of Aging: Advances in Exercise and Intervention Strategies for Older Adult WellnessView all 19 articles
Effects of Non-Pharmacological Interventions on Body Composition and Physical Function in Older Women with Sarcopenic Obesity: A Meta-Analysis
Provisionally accepted
- 1University of South China, Hengyang, China
- 2Heyou Hospital, Fosahn,Guangdong province, China
- 3The Affiliated Panyu Central Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- 4Baoan Central Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
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Background: Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is characterized by excess fat mass accompanied by sarcopenia, resulting in compounded health risks and functional decline. No standardized or effective treatment has been established. The health risks and disability potential of SO increase with age, and older women face greater challenges due to accelerated postmenopausal muscle loss. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated which non-pharmacological interventions effectively improve body composition and physical function in older women (≥60 years) with SO. Methods: Four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library) were searched up to April 2025. Eleven studies (10 randomized controlled trials and one quasi-experimental study) involving 532 participants were included. The quasi-experimental design was retained due to its methodological rigor, complete data, and relevance. Primary outcomes were key indicators of body composition and physical function. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool, and evidence certainty was rated via GRADE. Results: Non-pharmacological interventions significantly reduced body fat percentage (WMD = –1.85, 95% CI: –3.35 to –0.36, p < 0.05) and improved appendicular free fat mass (WMD = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.60–0.68, p < 0.001), skeletal muscle index (WMD = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.43–0.86, p < 0.001), and handgrip strength (WMD = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.76–4.16, p < 0.001). No significant effects were observed for gait speed, waist circumference, or BMI. Combined interventions were superior for fat reduction, while resistance training consistently improved muscle mass. Conclusion: Exercise-based interventions, particularly resistance or combined training, are effective and safe strategies for improving body composition and physical function in older women with SO. Future studies should adopt standardized diagnostic criteria (e.g., EWGSOP2, AWGS 2019) to enhance comparability and explore the synergistic effects of combined exercise and nutrition. Intervention models integrating short-term intensive programs with long-term maintenance may maximize therapeutic benefits and promote clinical sustainability.
Keywords: sarcopenic obesity, Non-pharmacological treatment, Aged, Exercise Therapy, Meta - analysis
Received: 04 Oct 2025; Accepted: 14 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zeng, Du, Zhen, Wang, Liu and Chen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Zhilin Chen, 2018000007@usc.edu.cn
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