Real-world study of an online platform for the prescription of physical exercise to obese patients - Effect on anthropometric, biochemical parameters and quality of life

Introduction: one of the risk factors related to obesity is a sedentary lifestyle. Physical exercise produces metabolic benefits. Its prescription through online tools has been poorly evaluated, though. Objective: the objective of our study was to assess the effect of the prescription of physical exercise through an online platform on anthropometric parameters, cardiovascular risk factors, and quality of life in sedentary obese patients. Material and methods: in a total of 35 obese patients, anthropometric data, muscle mass by ultrasound at the quadriceps level, laboratory parameters, blood pressure, and quality of life using the SF36 tool were collected at baseline and at 12 weeks. For 12 weeks, a structured physical exercise program was prescribed through an online platform - www.vibraup.com. Results: after the physical exercise program with the online platform, there was a significant improvement in body mass index (-1.51 ± 0.1 kg/m2; p = 0.01), weight (-3.7 ± 0.6 kg; p = 0.01), waist circumference (-6.9 ± 0.3 cm; p = 0.01), fat mass (-3.9 ± 0.2 kg ; p = 0.01), muscle mass (5.5 ± 1.6 kg; p = 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (-4.5 ± 0.4 mm Hg; p = 0.01), insulin (-2.8 ± 0.1 IU/L; p = 0.04), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (-0.9 ± 0.1 units; p = 0.03). The ultrasound parameters of the anterior rectus muscle also improved significantly. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome decreased from 27.3 % to 12.1 % (p = 0.03). The SF36 quality of life test showed a significant improvement in general health (20.9 ± 4.1 points; p = 0.001), physical role (6.9 ± 0.9 points; p = 0 .01), and mental health (14.0 ± 1.3 points; p = 0.01). Conclusion: the prescription of physical exercise with an online platform to obese patients improves weight, decreases body fat mass and increases muscle mass, with a decrease in insulin resistance and an improvement in quality of life.