Impact of MarsMars Online Platform for Physical Exercise on Physical Fitness, Activity and Body Weight

Abstract

Physical inactivity combined with decreased physical fitness and weight gain are big challenges for countries with compulsory military service. Aiming to improve the capability of recruits to perform their service, the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) promotes physical training among call-up aged young people by offering them a free social online platform for physical exercise (MarsMars, MM) prior to their military service. PURPOSE: To examine the impact of using MM on physical fitness, physical activity and body weight in call-up aged recruits. METHODS: 132 male recruits (age 22.4±9.7 yrs., height 1.78±0.08 m, and body mass 78.4±20.5 kg) voluntarily participated in the web survey. Age, body mass index (BMI), physical fitness and activity were self-reported. Maximal oxygen uptake was estimated using Jackson’s non-exercise method. RESULTS: Mean (±SD) maximal oxygen uptake of the respondents was 47.5±6.9 ml/kg/min. More than half of them (61.4%) were in the normal weight range, 23.5% were overweight (BMI over 25) and 15.2% were obese (BMI over 30). About half of the respondents (48.2%) self-estimated that their physical fitness improved due to the use of MM while every fourth respondent (24.8%) reported no effects. Most of the respondents (59.9%) estimated increases in their physical activity while every fourth respondent reported no effects. Every fourth (26.7%) estimated that their body weight decreased. Every third (36.9%) reported that their ability to complete military service improved due to the use of MM. Self-estimated, improved ability to complete military service was associated with improved physical fitness (R=0.47, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that physical fitness and activity increased among half of the recruits due to the use of the social online platform. In addition, every fourth respondent reported decreases in body mass. Thus, MM seems to be more useful for users who are overweight and have lower physical fitness. In conclusion, a social online platform can be a useful tool for promoting physical training among recruits prior to military service.