No effect of combined tele-exercises and nutritional coaching on anthropometric, body composition or exercise capacity outcomes in overweight and obese women: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Background: we aimed to investigate the isolated effect of tele-exercises (TE) and their combined effect with nutritional coaching (NC) on health-related parameters of overweight and obese individuals. Methods: forty-one overweight (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) and obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) women were randomly assigned to the experimental groups: TE (n = 20) or TE+NC (n = 21). TE was applied 3 days/week in both groups, while TE+NC also received NC 1 day/ week. Anthropometric, body composition, and exercise capacity-related outcomes, quality of life, and eating behavior were assessed before and after 8 weeks of the intervention. Results: a significant main time effect (p < 0.01) was detected for flexibility, isometric muscle strength and dynamic muscle endurance, but no main group effect was noted (p > 0.05). On the other hand, neither a significant main time nor group effect (p > 0.05) was detected in the anthropometric and body composition measures, quality of life, or eating behavior. Similarly, no significant between-group difference was observed in the absolute or relative change analysis (all comparisons, p > 0.05). Conclusions: an 8-week TE program enhanced exercise capacity, but did not impact anthropometric or body composition-related outcomes. The combination of NC+TE did not have a clinical advantage in the management of overweight and obesity.