Effects of a Mobile-Health Exercise Intervention on Body Composition, Vascular Function, and Autonomic Nervous System Function in Obese Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Purpose

The present study verified the effect of an m-health exercise intervention using a 12-week exercise program on body composition, vascular function, and the ANS.

Patients and Methods

Thirty obese adult women participants were randomized (n = 15 each) into the experimental (EXP) group, those who performed mobile-health (m-health) exercises using a wearable device (Charge 4, Fitbit, USA) and AI-fit web page, or the control (CON) group, those who continued their daily activities as before. Muscle function, cardiorespiratory endurance, and flexibility were assessed during the exercise program using the AI-fit web page and wearable device. The EXP group participated in exercise interventions using the m-health system for 12 weeks, while the CON group was encouraged to maintain their normal daily routines. Body composition, vascular function, and autonomic nervous system (ANS) were evaluated before and after the intervention.

Results

Significant decreases were noted in fat mass (Post - Pre: −1.47 kg; p < 0.001) and percent body fat (Post - Pre: −2.11%; p < 0.05). Flow-mediated dilatation (Post - Pre: 2.63%; p < 0.001) was significantly increased, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (Post - Pre: −91.49 cm·sec⁻¹; p < 0.01) was significantly decreased. RMSSD (Post - Pre: 10.43 ms; p < 0.01), NN50 (Post-Pre: 24.04; p < 0.05), pNN50 (Post - Pre: 7.70%; p < 0.05) and HF (Post-Pre: 179.60 ms²; p < 0.05) increased significantly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, m-health exercise interventions using AI fit and wearable devices are effective in preventing obesity and improving vascular function, and ANS.

Keywords:

• mobile health
• pulse wave velocity
• flow-mediated dilation
• autonomic nervous system
• obese women

Data Sharing Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Konkuk University (7001355-202112-HR-491). It was registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (http://cris.nih.go.kr), conforming to the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (registration number: KCT0007125). Written consent was obtained from all participants and conducted by the principles of the Helsinki Declaration.

Acknowledgments

We are particularly grateful to all the people who provided assistance to our article. Jae-Ho Choi and Sung-Woo Kim are co-first authors for this study.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of the Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2019S1A5B8099542).