Encarnação, SamuelAlves, João RibeiroBarbosa, Tiago M.Forte, PedroLeite, Luciano BernardesMonteiro, António M.2025-10-062025-10-062025Encarnação, Samuel; Alves, João Ribeiro; Barbosa, Tiago M.; Forte, Pedro; Leite, Luciano Bernardes; Monteiro, António M. (2025). Effectiveness of a multicomponent physical exercise program against older adults’ frailty and obesity risk during the COVID-19 pandemic: an experimental, longitudinal, and controlled study with responsiveness analysis. Sport Sciences for Health. ISSN 1824-7490. 21:3, p. 2373-23841824-74901825-1234http://hdl.handle.net/10198/34786This study assessed the effectiveness of a multicomponent exercise training against old adults' physical fragility and obesity risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. An experimental, controlled, and longitudinal study was performed in October 2021 (during the pandemic) and after the intervention in March 2023 (during the pandemic), totalizing 16-month intervention. A total of 53 elderly (37 older women and 16 older men), aged 69.2 +/- 12.4 years, participated in this study. After some dropouts, 10 participants in the experimental group (EG) and 10 participants in the control group (CG) accomplished the whole intervention and were analyzed after the post test. Bayesian statistical paired tests were applied to analyze the pre-post changes in physical fitness and body composition components. A responsiveness analysis was performed to identify individualized improvements within the follow-up period.The results demonstrated significant benefits, particularly in body composition, with improvements in BMI, VF, and %BF. Training effectively reduced waist circumference and minimized muscle mass loss. For physical frailty, improvements were noted in LLS, while CG showed worsening in UFL but unexpected improvements in static balance measures like APB and the 95% CI ellipse. In addition, training helped mitigate declines in HG strength, ULS, LLS, ULF, LLF, DB, APB, AF, MLB, and balance measures through responsiveness analysis.The multicomponent exercise training improved lower limb strength and reduced BMI, visceral fat, and body fat percentage, with responsiveness analysis showing protective effects across most variables for participants.engAgingPhysical activityPandemicsPrevention and controlCommunity healthjournal article10.1007/s11332-025-01469-9