The relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults — A scoping review

Background: Appetite loss among older adults is common and may lead to malnutrition, reduced function and frailty. Regular physical activity may help regulate appetite and enhance overall wellbeing. However, evidence concerning the relationship between physical activity and appetite in older adults...

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Main Authors: Annelie Turesson, Philipe De Souto Barreto, Margaretha Nydahl, Afsaneh Koochek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770725000624
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author Annelie Turesson
Philipe De Souto Barreto
Margaretha Nydahl
Afsaneh Koochek
author_facet Annelie Turesson
Philipe De Souto Barreto
Margaretha Nydahl
Afsaneh Koochek
author_sort Annelie Turesson
collection DOAJ
description Background: Appetite loss among older adults is common and may lead to malnutrition, reduced function and frailty. Regular physical activity may help regulate appetite and enhance overall wellbeing. However, evidence concerning the relationship between physical activity and appetite in older adults remains scarce. Objectives: This study aims to examine the existing literature for the relationship between appetite and physical activity among older adults, contributing to the identification of existing research gaps. Method: A scoping review was conducted using a block search strategy with keywords including physical activity, exercise, appetite, and older adults. Searches were performed in Web of Science, PubMed, and CINAHL on November 23, 2023. The inclusion criteria were: English language, human studies, population aged 55+ without severe disease, addressing both appetite and physical activity, original articles, and not qualitative studies. Results: Of 1190 articles identified, 25 were included. Females comprised 52% of the participants and most studies focused on community-dwelling older adults, primarily in the US and northern Europe. Research design and methodologies varied widely. Of the 25 studies, 14 were cross-sectional studies, seven randomized controlled trials, three non-randomized controlled trials, and one longitudinal observational study. Associations between physical activity and appetite were found in a longitudinal observational study including 186 participants, two randomized trials involving higher-intensity exercise, all non-randomized studies, and 10 cross-sectional studies. Conclusion: Although an association between appetite and physical activity among older adults has been observed, the lack of randomized controlled trials limits conclusions regarding whether exercise can effectively regulate appetite in older adults.
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spelling doaj-art-680373191cc74d3697ef87cb183fdc5d2025-08-20T03:11:54ZengElsevierThe Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging1760-47882025-05-0129510053810.1016/j.jnha.2025.100538The relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults — A scoping reviewAnnelie Turesson0Philipe De Souto Barreto1Margaretha Nydahl2Afsaneh Koochek3Department of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Corresponding author.Department of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; IHU HealthAge, Toulouse, France; CERPOP UMR 1295, University of Toulouse, INSERM, UPS, Toulouse, France; Institute on Aging of the Toulouse University Hospital (CHU Toulouse), Toulouse, FranceDepartment of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SwedenDepartment of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SwedenBackground: Appetite loss among older adults is common and may lead to malnutrition, reduced function and frailty. Regular physical activity may help regulate appetite and enhance overall wellbeing. However, evidence concerning the relationship between physical activity and appetite in older adults remains scarce. Objectives: This study aims to examine the existing literature for the relationship between appetite and physical activity among older adults, contributing to the identification of existing research gaps. Method: A scoping review was conducted using a block search strategy with keywords including physical activity, exercise, appetite, and older adults. Searches were performed in Web of Science, PubMed, and CINAHL on November 23, 2023. The inclusion criteria were: English language, human studies, population aged 55+ without severe disease, addressing both appetite and physical activity, original articles, and not qualitative studies. Results: Of 1190 articles identified, 25 were included. Females comprised 52% of the participants and most studies focused on community-dwelling older adults, primarily in the US and northern Europe. Research design and methodologies varied widely. Of the 25 studies, 14 were cross-sectional studies, seven randomized controlled trials, three non-randomized controlled trials, and one longitudinal observational study. Associations between physical activity and appetite were found in a longitudinal observational study including 186 participants, two randomized trials involving higher-intensity exercise, all non-randomized studies, and 10 cross-sectional studies. Conclusion: Although an association between appetite and physical activity among older adults has been observed, the lack of randomized controlled trials limits conclusions regarding whether exercise can effectively regulate appetite in older adults.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770725000624Anorexia of agingHungerSatietyOlder peopleExercise
spellingShingle Annelie Turesson
Philipe De Souto Barreto
Margaretha Nydahl
Afsaneh Koochek
The relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults — A scoping review
The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging
Anorexia of aging
Hunger
Satiety
Older people
Exercise
title The relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults — A scoping review
title_full The relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults — A scoping review
title_fullStr The relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults — A scoping review
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults — A scoping review
title_short The relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults — A scoping review
title_sort relationship between physical activity and appetite among older adults a scoping review
topic Anorexia of aging
Hunger
Satiety
Older people
Exercise
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770725000624
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