DIGITAL HOME-BASED EXERCISE FOR DECREASING FAT MASS AND PRESERVING MUSCLE MASS IN OLDER ADULTS - A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Physical inactivity is a global public health problem which increases the risk of multiple adverse outcomes and is the fourth leading risk factor for premature death. While it is already well-established that daily physical activity decreases with age, the current actions and restrictions which have been implemented to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus (covid-19) and protect the older population unfortunately further limits the possibilities for older adults to exercise and remain physically active. Now, researchers at Umeå University, Sweden have evaluated the use of a digital home-based exercise program for older adults. The results show that digital home-based exercise appears to be a feasible exercise strategy which also decreases fat mass and preserves muscle mass in older adults. Because the program is delivered through the internet and can be performed at home without the use of expensive gym-equipment, there is great potential for wide distribution of the exercise program to a broad population.

- We found a mean decrease in fat mass of 0.5 kg and a preservation of muscle mass among 70-year-old men and women following only 10 weeks of digital home-based exercise. The results are important given that physical inactivity, excess fat mass and low muscle mass are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature death, says Marcel Ballin, doctoral student at the unit of geriatric medicine, department of community medicine and rehabilitation at Umeå University.

” The findings are interesting both in a long-term perspective and immediately where digital exercise could serve as an excellent tool for promoting physical activity in older adults during the ongoing covid-19 pandemic ”

In a randomized controlled trial, Marcel Ballin and colleagues at Umeå University compared the effects of supervised exercise to digital home-based exercise among 77, 70-year-old men and women. Half of the participants received 10 weeks of supervised exercise and the other half received 10 weeks of digital home-based exercise. The exercise program comprised easy-to-perform whole-body exercises which were performed in short bursts of vigorous intensity. The group who exercises at home were streaming the exercise program through a web site. The results showed that supervised exercise resulted in a mean decrease in fat mass of 1 kg, compared to digital exercise which resulted in a mean decrease of 0.5 kg.

- It is however important to note that despite that one type of exercise strategy, in this case supervised exercise, is more effective in the short-term, it does not necessarily suit everyone, says Marcel Ballin. Therefore, it is valuable to develop and evaluate alternative ways to lower the threshold towards exercise for older adults. Not all older people have the possibility or willingness to regularly visit a gym facility, not to mention the cost. From this point of view, digital exercise may have advantages by serving as a feasible and readily accessible alternative, and from previous research we know that digital health interventions are more cost-efficient.

The researchers also highlight another important finding, which is that the adherence to the digital exercise program was very high, and the participants’ experiences were overwhelmingly positive:

- It is not surprising that supervised exercise is more effective in the short-term, but the findings related to feasibility of the digital exercise is particularly interesting. Not only in a long-term perspective, but also immediately given the ongoing covid-19 pandemic. Whereas the restrictions implemented makes it more difficult for older adults to remain physically active and exercise, digital exercise could serve as an excellent tool for promoting physical activity in older adults, finishes Marcel Ballin.

The study, named ’Web-based exercise versus supervised exercise for decreasing visceral adipose tissue in older adults with central obesity: a randomized controlled trial’, has been published in BMC Geriatrics.

Authors: Marcel Ballin, Andreas Hult, Sabine Björk, Emmy Lundberg, Peter Nordström, Anna Nordström

Contact:
Marcel Ballin Doctoral student
Department of community medicine and rehabilitation, unit of geriatric medicine
Department of public health and clinical medicine, section of sustainable health
Umeå University marcel.ballin@umu.se

Andreas Hult
Researcher and associate professor
Department of community medicine and rehabilitation, section of sports medicine
Department of public health and clinical medicine, section of sustainable health
Umeå University
andreas.hult@umu.se

Sabine Björk
Registered nurse and researcher Leg. sjuksköterska och forskare
Department of nursing
Department of public health and clinical medicine, section of sustainable health
Umeå University
sabine.bjork@umu.se

Emmy Lundberg
Exercise physiologist
Department of public health and clinical medicine, section of sustainable healthUmeå University emmy95a@hotmail.com

Peter Nordström
Chief physician and professor
Department of community medicine and rehabilitation, unit of geriatric medicine
Umeå University
peter.nordstrom@umu.se

Anna Nordström Chief physician and professor II
Department of public health and clinical medicine,
section of sustainable health
Umeå University
anna.h.nordstrom@umu.se