Promoting physical activity for health benefits via a 10-week mobile-application-based personal training programme

Abstract

Mobile-application-based interventions promoting engagement in regular physical activity have been shown to afford weight loss, although the wider health benefits remain unknown. This exploratory intervention study quantified the effects of a 10-week mobile-application-based personal training programme combined with nutritional education content, considering physical and psychosocial health-related outcomes. Eleven healthy individuals completed the intervention, comprising physical activity prescription (resistance and high-intensity interval training), nutritional education, a daily step target and online personal trainer support. Outcomes included anthropometrics, circumferential measurements, resting heart rate, blood pressure, aerobic capacity, self-rated health, physical activity enjoyment scale, and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. Significant improvements in body mass, circumferential measurements and aerobic capacity (p < 0.05) were observed amongst participants. Mobile-application-based interventions promoting physical activity may elicit improvements in physical health outcomes. Although healthy individuals were recruited for the purpose of this study, further research is now warranted to explore the potential health-related benefits of such mobile-applications amongst targeted groups such as disengaged, inactive populations, or individuals with long-term health conditions.