Abstract
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of online high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in abdominally obese women experiencing health complications due to COVID-19. Methods: Sixteen participants were enrolled and divided into the HIIT group (n = 8) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT, n = 8) group. The HIIT group underwent 20 min of exercise consisting of 20 s of high-intensity (85–90% HRmax) exercise followed by 30 s of exercise at 60% HRmax using only body weight. The main exercise program for the MICT group included 40 min of stationary bike pedaling at 65–70% HRmax. Exercise was performed three days a week for eight weeks using a smart device and application that enables bidirectional communication. Results: The HIIT group showed reduced body fat (p = 0.036), BMI (p = 0.021), and visceral fat (p = 0.003) compared to the MICT group. Further, the HIIT group also had reduced insulin (p = 0.021) and LDL levels (p = 0.024), increased grip strength (left p = 0.012, right: p = 0.002), and a substantial drop in total stress index (p = 0.004) compared to the MICT group. Conclusions: Thus, online HIIT is a useful means to reduce abdominal fat, improve blood lipid profile and muscle strength, and relieve stress caused by COVID-19.
Highlights
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) the world over in 2020 has triggered unprecedented political, financial, and social crises and cultural transformations, and the prolonged pandemic, ironically, has accelerated the cutting-edge technology-based fourth industrial revolution [1,2]
With professional manpower and administrative focus directed toward measures for disinfection amid the global crisis caused by COVID-19, the gravity of obesity and secondary metabolic disorders is currently underestimated, and measures for their prevention and treatment have been put on hold [4,12]
This study investigated the effects of online highhigh-intensity interval training (HIIT) on women’s body composition, abdominal obesity, intensity interval training (HIIT) on women’s body composition, abdominal obesity, musmuscle strength, blood lipid profile, and stress, and confirmed that online HIIT for 8 weeks cle strength, blood lipid profile, and stress, and confirmed that online HIIT for 8 weeks had greater physical and psychological effects compared to moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) participants
Summary
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) the world over in 2020 has triggered unprecedented political, financial, and social crises and cultural transformations, and the prolonged pandemic, ironically, has accelerated the cutting-edge technology-based fourth industrial revolution [1,2]. Going beyond the scope of online communication and consumption, the realization of work, education, and travel in virtual spaces, such as augmented reality (AR) and metaverse, has made smart devices an indispensable part of people’s lives in modern society [3]. It has resulted in musculoskeletal disorders and obesity in people leading sedentary lifestyles for prolonged periods of time [4,5]. Abdominal obesity causes various metabolic diseases because of the large number of cytokines from fat cells. These cytokines cause inflammatory diseases, which have a positive correlation with abdominal obesity [13,14,15,16,17]
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