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. 2022 Aug 1;19(15):9421.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159421.

Effects of an Online Supervised Exercise Training in Children with Obesity during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Matteo Vandoni  1 , Vittoria Carnevale Pellino  1   2 , Alessandro Gatti  1 , Daniela Lucini  3   4 , Savina Mannarino  5 , Cristiana Larizza  6 , Virginia Rossi  5 , Valeria Tranfaglia  5 , Agnese Pirazzi  1 , Valentina Biino  7   8 , Gianvincenzo Zuccotti  5   9 , Valeria Calcaterra  2   10
Affiliations

Effects of an Online Supervised Exercise Training in Children with Obesity during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Matteo Vandoni et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

COVID-19 restrictions have dramatically reduced the active lifestyle and physical activity (PA) levels in the whole population, a situation that can contribute to weight gain and to develop obesity. To improve physical fitness (PF) in children with obesity during COVID-19 restrictions, sport specialists started to deliver physical training through tele-exercise. For these reasons, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 12-week online supervised training program in children with obesity on different PF components and PA levels. We enrolled a total of 40 Caucasian children (9 F/31 M; aged 11 ± 1.9 years) with obesity. The data collection consisted of a series of anthropometric measures, the PAQ-C questionnaire, and PF tests, valid and reliable tools to assess PF in children. We used a Wilcoxon's t-test and a Student's t-test, as appropriate, to assess the differences before and after the training protocol. A total of 37 patients completed the training protocol and were considered in the analysis. Our results show an improvement in all the PF tests, a reduction in the BMI z-score, the waist circumference, and in the waist-to-height ratio, and an increased PA level. In conclusion, the results of our study show that an online supervised training program is effective to promote PA, improving PF and reducing the BMI z-score in children with obesity.

Keywords: childhood exercise intervention; childhood obesity; online exercise; physical fitness.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the study protocol.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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