Ricerc@Sapienza

Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for mortality. Despite physical activity is recommended worldwide, unfortunately a notably percentage of subjects do not reach the minimum amount recommended. Generally, supervised exercise program is considered better than unsupervised to guarantee adherence and maintenance over time. COVID-19 pandemic changed dramatically life increasing physical inactivity due to self-isolation, social distancing and denied access to sport clubs. Thus, the aims of this study are to assess if promotion of unsupervised exercise program has effect on body composition, cardiometabolic biomarkers and nutrition habits and to verify the maintenance of physical activity after 6 months from the completion of the program.
For this purpose, Sapienza University physical inactive staff and student will invite to participate. The exercise program will be based on a daily schedule program with increasing intensity and based on alternating sessions of running, power, and relaxation exercises. The duration of the exercise program is 10 weeks. Every week the subjects will receive an email with the training program. At the end of the program the subjects will take part to a half-marathon in Rome. Before and after the training program all subjects will undergo medical evaluation including measurement of blood pressure, 12- leads electrocardiogram, measurements of cardiometabolic biomarkers and body composition and administration of a Food Frequency Questionnaire. After 6 months from the marathon a questionnaire will be collected to assess how the program increased their self-efficacy and motivation for exercise and the maintenance of their physical activity after the completion of the program.
A comparison of pre and post program cardiometabolic biomarkers and body composition will be made and the drop-out rate during the training and the percentage of subject able to maintain the physical active status to the will be calculated.