Brazilian Journal of Lifestyle Medicine · Oct 16, 2026
Multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention: comparison between outpatient and inpatient care models
By Nunes JG, Alfieri F, de Oliveira NC
Introduction: Lifestyle medicine–based interventions have been used to improve health indicators and reduce cardiometabolic risk factors; however, comparisons between different care models remain limited. Objective: To compare the effects of a multidisciplinary lifestyle intervention delivered in outpatient and inpatient settings on anthropometric variables and pain tolerance. Method: Prospective comparative observational study including 108 adults and older adults allocated to an inpatient group (IG; n=61) and an outpatient group (OG; n=47). Sociodemographic data, body composition, lifestyle profile (PEVI), and pain tolerance assessed by algometry were evaluated before and after the intervention. Analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics to assess group, time, and interaction effects, performed using SPSS v.27. Results: A significant effect of time was observed for body weight reduction in both groups. A time × group interaction was identified for body fat percentage, with a slight reduction in the IG and maintenance in the OG. No significant changes were observed in pain tolerance. The OG presented higher lifestyle scores, particularly in the domains of nutrition and stress management. Conclusion: The multidisciplinary intervention was associated with modest anthropometric changes, with differences related to the care setting. Structured inpatient models may favor specific changes in body composition, although no impact on pain tolerance was observed.