Health and fitness trends in Southern Europe for 2023: A cross-sectional survey

Comparative effectiveness of morning and evening aerobic exercise on weight loss and physical fitness in Chinese college students with overweight and obesity

BACKGROUND

Physiological and metabolic processes are influenced by biological rhythms. However, whether exercising in the morning or evening is more beneficial, given that these periods are two key time windows to incorporate exercise, has remained unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of morning versus evening exercise on weight loss, morphometric indicators, and physical fitness among Chinese college students with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

A total of 31 students with overweight and obesity (18-22 years old) were randomly assigned to exercise in the morning (7 am to 10 am, n = 16) or evening (6 pm to 9 pm, n = 15). The morning exercise group had an average age of 19.69 ± 1.01 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 27.13 ± 2.66 kg/m². The evening group had an average age of 19.47 ± 0.99 years and a BMI of 27.91 ± 3.40 kg/m². In the morning group, 87.5% of participants were male, while 73.3% were male in the evening group. The intervention was aerobic running exercise for 60 min, five times a week for 10 weeks. Measurements were taken before and after the 10-week intervention.

RESULTS

The BMI values of male and female college students were significantly and positively associated with vital capacity (p < 0.001) and significantly and negatively associated with vital capacity weight index, 50-meter, 800-/1,000-meter, standing long jump, and chin-ups and sit-ups test performances (p < 0.001). Participants who trained in the morning showed significant reductions in minimum waist circumference (MWC) (p = 0.043, d = 0.77), scapular skinfold thickness (ST) (p = 0.002, d = 1.30) and upper arm ST (p = 0.006, d = 1.05) compared with those who trained in the evening.

CONCLUSIONS

Exercise in the morning, compared with that in the evening, has superior beneficial effects on weight loss and improving body shape in Chinese college students living with overweight and obesity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2400089594. Date of registration 11/09/2024.

Gender differences in eating habits and sports preferences across age groups: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Gender differences in dietary habits, physical activity and body composition are key determinants of health and disease risk. Although these differences are well documented, their variation across age groups remains poorly explored. This study examines gender-specific patterns in eating behaviours, sport preferences and body composition metrics, with the aim of providing evidence for tailored public health interventions.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,276 participants (1,349 females and 927 males) aged 18-75 years. Recruitment combined an online survey and clinical assessments. Body composition was evaluated with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and eating habits were investigated with detailed weekly food diaries. Gender differences between five age groups were statistically analysed using chi-square and t-tests (p ≤ 0.05). The study protocol was approved by the Lazio Area 5 Ethics Committee.

RESULTS

Significant differences in body composition were observed between genders: men had a higher lean mass and basal metabolic rate, whereas women showed a higher fat mass in all age groups. Eating habits varied significantly: men preferred salty and protein-rich foods, consumed alcohol more frequently and showed a higher prevalence of meal skipping and uncontrolled eating behaviour. Women showed greater meal regularity, a preference for sweet tastes and a higher likelihood of eating alone in the older age groups. Sports participation differs markedly in the age group 30-39 years, in which men were predominantly involved in team sports, while women favoured strength training and skill activities.

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the strong gender disparities in dietary and lifestyle behaviour, which evolve with age. These findings underline that tailored public health strategies, responding to gender-specific requirements, are needed to promote healthier lifestyles and reduce inequalities. Future studies should use longitudinal designs to explore causal relationships.

REGISTERED CLINICAL STUDIES

The study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06661330; registered 22 October 2024, retrospectively). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06661330 .

Gender differences in physical activity and sport participation in adults across 28 European countries between 2005 and 2022

OBJECTIVE

There is a lack of understanding of the specific types and intensities of physical activity driving the gender gap in overall levels of physical activity, and how these activities are changing over time. We examined the gender gap in specific types and intensities of physical activities in European adults from 2005 to 2022.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This repeated cross-sectional study included data from adults from the Eurobarometer (2005-2022) from 28 European countries. Gender differences in meeting physical activity guidelines, sport, walking, moderate, and vigorous activity were examined using prevalence ratios (PR, relative inequalities) and mean differences (MD, absolute differences).

RESULTS

Among 123,809 participants, there was no change in the gender gap in meeting physical activity guidelines from 2005 to 2022 (PR = 1.10; 95 % CIs 1.07, 1.14, PR = 1.04; 95 % CIs 1.01, 1.08, respectively). The gender gap in vigorous intensity activity decreased from 2005 to 2022 (MD = 589; 95 % CIs 545.7, 631.5, MD = 399; 95 % CIs 354.5, 444.3, respectively). The gender gap in moderate activity increased from 2005 to 2022 (MD = 10.9; 95 % CIs - 14.2, 35.9, MD = 104; 95 % CIs 77.8, 130.1, respectively). The gender gap in sport and exercise increased from 2009 to 2022 (PR = 1.14; 95 % CIs 1.10, 1.19; PR = 1.22; 95 % CIs 1.17, 1.27, respectively). There was no gender gap in walking between 2005 and 2022 (MD = -1.4; 95 % CIs - 21.2, 18.4, MD = 12.5; 95 % CIs - 4.9, 29.9, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Sport remains an underutilized contributor to overall physical activity levels and could be promoted among women to reduce the overall gender gap in physical activity.

Effects of wearing a KF94 face mask on performance, perceptual parameters, and physiological responses during resistance exercise

PURPOSE

Wearing face masks in indoor public places, including fitness centers, is an effective strategy for preventing the airborne transmission of viruses. Despite this, limited research has addressed the effects of wearing a mask during resistance exercise, which is primarily performed in indoor fitness centers. This study investigated the effects of wearing a KF94 face mask on exercise volume, perceptual parameters, and cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular responses during resistance exercise.

METHODS

Twenty young men (23.8 ± 0.5 years old) participated in this randomized crossover trial. The participants performed moderate-intensity resistance exercise (60% of 1RM) sessions under two different conditions (KF94 mask vs. no mask). Cardiorespiratory parameters, exercise volume, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and dyspnea were measured. Blood lactate concentration, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and perceptual parameters were measured pre- and post-exercise.

RESULTS

Wearing the KF94 mask significantly reduced exercise volume, ventilation volume, and ventilation efficiency compared to exercising without a mask (p < 0.05). Although blood lactate concentration remained unchanged between the two conditions, RPE and dyspnea were significantly higher with the KF94 mask (p < 0.01). Central arterial stiffness post-exercise was significantly higher with the KF94 mask than without it (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Wearing a KF94 face mask during resistance exercise affected exercise volume, perceptual parameters, and cardiorespiratory and cardiovascular responses. These findings suggest that coaches and trainers should consider the individual characteristics when designing exercise prescriptions and modifying resistance exercise variables while wearing KF94 masks.

A cross-sectional study of musculoskeletal injuries related to exercise among gym members in Saudi Arabia in 2022: prevalence, common types, and predictor factors

BACKGROUND

Despite the importance of enhancing exercise, exercising can cause injuries that lead to disability and increase the load on the medical sector. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of exercise-related injuries among gym members in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and evaluate the more common types of such injuries. It also investigated the association between injury prevalence and the factors selected.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study with a self-reported survey was conducted targeting members of Fitness Time gyms across the KSA. The survey consisted of three parts: part one concerns participant demographic data and part two contains four questions regarding the participants' training experience. Part three contains ten questions targeting those with a history of injury. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. Crosstabs and chi-squared tests were used to assess the prevalence of exercise-related injuries when appropriate. Binary logistic regression was employed to investigate the association between injury prevalence and the potential associated factors. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated and the threshold for statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 713 subjects participated in the study. The mean age was 36.5 ± 11.2 years and (n = 422, 59.2%) of the participants were female. The study found a prevalence of injury among gym members of about (n = 404, ~57%). The most commonly reported types of injuries were muscle strain (n = 126, 37%) and bruising (n = 45, 13%). The most prevalent anatomical location of injury was the knee (n = 287, 84.3%), followed by the shoulder (n = 283, 83.3%), and the least common was the head/neck (n = 7, 2.1%). The present study suggests some factors associated with exercise-related injury. A significant statistical association (p < 0.5) was found between injury prevalence and age, gender, educational level, period of training, and presence of a trainer. However, no association was detected between injury prevalence and Body Mass Index (BMI), place of residence, or source of advice.

CONCLUSION

Over half of the participants of this study reported at least one exercise-related injury. This study identifies factors associated with injury prevalence related to exercise among gym participants. Promoting safety and minimizing the incidence of injuries are crucial.

Predicting Sleep Quality through Biofeedback: A Machine Learning Approach Using Heart Rate Variability and Skin Temperature

Sleep quality (SQ) is a crucial aspect of overall health. Poor sleep quality may cause cognitive impairment, mood disturbances, and an increased risk of chronic diseases. Therefore, assessing sleep quality helps identify individuals at risk and develop effective interventions. SQ has been demonstrated to affect heart rate variability (HRV) and skin temperature even during wakefulness. In this perspective, using wearables and contactless technologies to continuously monitor HR and skin temperature is highly suited for assessing objective SQ. However, studies modeling the relationship linking HRV and skin temperature metrics evaluated during wakefulness to predict SQ are lacking. This study aims to develop machine learning models based on HRV and skin temperature that estimate SQ as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). HRV was measured with a wearable sensor, and facial skin temperature was measured by infrared thermal imaging. Classification models based on unimodal and multimodal HRV and skin temperature were developed. A Support Vector Machine applied to multimodal HRV and skin temperature delivered the best classification accuracy, 83.4%. This study can pave the way for the employment of wearable and contactless technologies to monitor SQ for ergonomic applications. The proposed method significantly advances the field by achieving a higher classification accuracy than existing state-of-the-art methods. Our multimodal approach leverages the synergistic effects of HRV and skin temperature metrics, thus providing a more comprehensive assessment of SQ. Quantitative performance indicators, such as the 83.4% classification accuracy, underscore the robustness and potential of our method in accurately predicting sleep quality using non-intrusive measurements taken during wakefulness.

Health and fitness trends in the post-COVID-19 era in the United Arab Emirates: A cross-sectional study

The health and fitness (H&F) sector is rapidly evolving and appears to be a vibrant space for industry stakeholders with a great potential globally. This observational study aimed to identify the most popular trends related to H&F services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time, focused on the industry status after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and aimed to detect potential differences with the recent results observed in other countries or regions. Additionally, a chi-square analysis was applied to determine the significant differences between trends and demographics, such as sex, age, experience, and work status. A national online survey was conducted, and applied the methodology of similar international surveys that have been carried out by the American College of Sports Medicine since 2006. In particular, simple random sampling was utilized through an online questionnaire sent to 2771 professionals involved in the UAE's H&F sector. In total, 322 responses were collected with a response rate of 11.6%. The 10 most popular H&F trends in the UAE during the post-COVID-19 era were exercise for weight loss, personal training, traditional strength training, employing certified exercise professionals, boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, youth athletic development, high-intensity interval training, massage, bodyweight training, and wearable technologies. Exercise for weight loss (p = 0.001) and lifestyle medicine (p = 0.032) were more popular among females compared to males, while traditional strength training (p = 0.035) was reported more frequently by males. Going to health clubs and spas (p = 0.001) and practicing yoga (p = 0.011) were more popular trends among middle-aged (36-64 years) respondents compared to young ones (18-34 years). Athletic development (p = 0.042) was more frequently reported by non-practitioners (students) compared to practitioners (part- and full-time employees). The present results are partially in line with those reported in other recent national, regional, and global surveys, which investigated the top H&F trends after the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, the main outcomes of this study indicate that the industry stakeholders should focus on in-person H&F services since trends related to technology and digital services are not currently popular nationwide. Moreover, the majority of the top trends were more traditional and rooted activities, which showed that the current status of the H&F sector has established particular training services, programs, and products in the UAE.

Dietary supplementation habits in international natural bodybuilders during pre-competition

Bodybuilding is characterized by high-rates of sport supplementation. This is the first study to compare the supplementation patterns of winners (WB) and non-winners (NWB) among international natural bodybuilders during contest preparation. Fifty-six natural bodybuilders (5 women) (age = 28.85 ± 8.03 years; final body mass = 71.50 ± 10.28 kg), 19 WB (athletes who had achieved victory in an official natural bodybuilding championship at least once) and 37 NWB (athletes who never achieved victory), from 18 countries (55.36% from Spain) responded to this cross-sectional online survey related to their nutritional habits, strategies and supplementation practices. WB were significantly older (p = 0.024), completed more competitive seasons (p = 0.027) and participated in more competitions in the last contest year (p = 0.011). There were no significant differences between WB and NWB for years training for bodybuilding (p = 0.055), weeks of dieting for competition (p = 0.392), and body weight at the start (p = 0.553) and end (p = 0.330) of the season. Beverage and supplement consumption, purchasing patterns, and information sources did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, natural bodybuilding WB tended to be older and had more competitive experience, but shared similar supplementation protocols to NWB. Athletes' supplementation patterns were influenced by different sources of information. However, these natural bodybuilders mainly purchased their supplements through the internet without guidance from a coach or dietitian.

Health and fitness trends in Iran for 2024: A cross-sectional study

The health and fitness sector is evolving and appears to be an important field not only for consumers but also for gym operators/managers, exercise professionals, training providers and educators with great potential worldwide. Our aim of this cross-sectional survey was to investigate the most attractive health and fitness trends in Iran for the first time and to observe any potential differences with the recent results reported in other regions. A national online survey was conducted, using the methodology of similar international surveys conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine since 2007. In total, a web-based questionnaire was sent to 7158 professionals who worked in the Iranian health and fitness industry. A total of 408 responses were collected with a response rate of 5.7%. The 10 most important health and fitness trends in Iran for 2024 were strength training with free weights, exercise for weight loss, group training, low-cost and budget gyms, dance-based workouts, outdoor activities, Pilates, bodyweight training, core training and aquatic exercise. The present findings are not fully aligned with those reported for the top health and fitness trends internationally, showing that trends related to technology and health are not yet popular nationwide. Such outcomes may support all industry stakeholders with making important business decisions, professional development opportunities and innovative concepts to enhance customer engagement through positive exercise experiences.

The Gaze Patterns of Group Fitness Instructors Based on Different Levels of Training and Professional Experience

The way in which group fitness instructors observe participants has a great influence on their pedagogical intervention. Based on the above, the main objective of this research is to characterize and compare their gaze patterns according to their training and professional experience. Twenty group fitness instructors of choreographed classes participated, aged between 18 and 42 years old, and for the comparison, four groups were created. Eye movements were captured with TOBII Pro Glasses 3, and data were coded and analyzed using the TOBII Pro Lab software. For the characterization of the gaze patterns, descriptive statistics were used in terms of count (f/m) and duration (s/m), while the comparison was performed using a one-way ANOVA test. More trained and experienced instructors tend to look at participants less, in count (80.59 ± 0.74) and duration (17.74 ± 0.71), with significant differences between the groups in some areas of interest (head, lower body, and other). There are also significant differences in the total number of eye fixations (F = 34.614; p = 0.001; η2 = 0.866; effect size very high). In conclusion, and projecting future works, it is important to understand how these gaze patterns are related to pedagogical behaviors in general or based on some specific factors (e.g., pedagogical feedback).