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.
Negative effect of sport inactivity is well known. In fact, in 2018 the World Health Assembly (WHA) approved a new Global Action Plan on Physical Activity and adopted a new voluntary global target to reduce global levels of physical inactivity in adults and adolescents by 15% by 2030 (Global action plan on physical activity 2018-2030: more active people for a healthier world. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2018).
In 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) updated previous recommendations released in 2010 (Bull FC, et al. Br J Sports Med 2020;54:1451-1462). In the newer document it was reaffirmed the messages that some physical activity is better than none, that more physical activity is better for optimal health outcomes. Accordingly, new recommendation on reducing sedentary behaviours were provided. This is a consequence of the data that almost 30% of adults and more than two third of adolescents do not reach the minimum amount of sport activity request.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dampened the trajectory to improve physical activity. Self-isolation, social distancing, the closure of gyms, pools and sport clubs increased the detrimental effect of sedentary behaviour and sport inactivity.
It is currently unknown how long such restriction could affect people life in the future. Therefore, it is important to create alternative strategies to promote physical activity.
This research project has this specific aim. Unsupervised exercise program planned by health professional could be an alternative in case of future restriction to the access of sport club. This program can be easily performed without the need of health and fitness professionals. Unsupervised program is generally considered less effective than supervised in term of efficacy and maintain in the long term. However, if this research will prove that benefits in term of body composition and cardiometabolic changes will be observed after the training this can be proposed as an alternative in specific situation.