Digital exercise interventions for improving measures of central obesity: a systematic review

Marcel Ballin (), Andreas Hult, Sabine Björk, John Dinsmore, Peter Nordström and Anna Nordström
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Marcel Ballin: Umeå University
Andreas Hult: Umeå University
Sabine Björk: Umeå University
John Dinsmore: Trinity College Dublin
Peter Nordström: Umeå University
Anna Nordström: Umeå University

International Journal of Public Health, No 0, 13 pages

Abstract: Abstract Objectives We aimed to systematically review the potential benefits of digital exercise interventions for improving measures of central obesity including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and anthropometric surrogates for VAT in overweight or centrally obese adults aged 18 or over. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted in three databases up until March 2020 (PROSPERO registration nr CRD42019126764). Results N = 5 studies including 438 participants (age 48–80) with body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 met the eligibility criteria and were included. The duration of the interventions ranged from 8 to 24 weeks. No study measured the primary outcome VAT, although in N = 4 studies, waist circumference (WC) decreased by between 1.3 and 5.6 cm in the intervention groups. Conclusions This systematic review shows that there is no evidence for the effects of digital exercise on VAT, although digital exercise may decrease WC. These findings highlight the need for additional randomized controlled trials to confirm the findings with respect to WC, and to further investigate the effects of digital exercise on VAT. Together, this may have important implications for reducing the burden of physical inactivity and obesity.

Keywords: Digital health; Physical activity; Visceral adipose tissue; Obesity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-020-01385-4

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