de Freitas Fábio, Antônio Maria Ângela, Zago Mariana R, Zambon Mariana, Videira-Silva António
PhD Student in the Child and Adolescent Health Graduate Program at the Unicamp School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Department of Pediatrics, Unicamp School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Digit Health. 2024 Oct 18;10:20552076241291386. doi: 10.1177/20552076241291386. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.
This study aimed to explore the utility of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) app as a remote exercise support strategy in children with obesity through assessing adherence, possible effects on obesity-related outcomes, and perceptions of its use to support counseling and improve the treatment of children with obesity.
Thirty-seven children (94.6% with obesity; 45.9% girls), with a mean age of 10.4 (±1.8) years and a mean body mass index (BMI) z-score of 3.31 (±1.09) were recruited to use the app during 6 weeks. Assessments were performed at baseline, 6 (end of intervention), and 12 weeks (follow up).
Thirty-two (86.3%) participants completed both intervention and follow-up assessments and were analyzed. On average, children used the HIIT app 2.5 times per week (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9 to 3.0), with the highest perceived exertion of 4.1 (95% CI: 3.6 to 4.5). No over-time differences were found in body composition, physical activity, screen time, sleep duration, or water intake after the intervention; however, an over-time decrease in sugary beverages intake (Δ-0.9, 95% CI: -1.6 to -0.1, = .019). No differences in body composition were found at follow up. Although none of the children or parents perceived impairments in nutritional behavior, general wellbeing, or fitness as a consequence of intervention, most children (64.5%), but not parents, perceived improvements in nutritional behavior and general wellbeing.
Although feasible, the 6-week effect of HIIT app use is modest or absent regarding body composition, movement, and nutritional behavior change, probably due to its low volume. More studies are needed to explore the utility of HIIT apps as a remote exercise support strategy for children with obesity further.
本研究旨在通过评估依从性、对肥胖相关结局的可能影响以及对其用于支持咨询和改善肥胖儿童治疗的看法，探讨高强度间歇训练（HIIT）应用程序作为肥胖儿童远程运动支持策略的效用。
招募了37名儿童（94.6%患有肥胖症；45.9%为女孩），平均年龄为10.4（±1.8）岁，平均体重指数（BMI）z评分为3.31（±1.09），在6周内使用该应用程序。在基线、6周（干预结束时）和12周（随访）进行评估。
32名（86.3%）参与者完成了干预和随访评估并进行了分析。平均而言，儿童每周使用HIIT应用程序2.5次（95%置信区间（CI）：1.9至3.0），最高感知运动强度为4.1（95%CI：3.6至4.5）。干预后，身体成分、身体活动、屏幕时间、睡眠时间或饮水量没有随时间变化的差异；然而，含糖饮料摄入量随时间下降（Δ-0.9，95%CI：-1.6至-0.1，P = 0.019）。随访时身体成分没有差异。尽管没有儿童或家长认为干预会导致营养行为、总体幸福感或健康状况受损，但大多数儿童（64.5%），而非家长，认为营养行为和总体幸福感有所改善。
尽管可行，但使用HIIT应用程序6周对身体成分、运动和营养行为改变的影响不大或没有影响，可能是因为使用量较低。需要更多研究进一步探讨HIIT应用程序作为肥胖儿童远程运动支持策略的效用。
