Body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness of overweight COVID-19 survivors in different severity degrees: a cohort study.

COVID-19 sequelae are varied, and whether they are temporary or permanent is still unknown. Identifying these sequelae may guide therapeutic strategies to improve these individuals' recovery. This prospective cohort aimed to assess body composition, cardiopulmonary fitness, and long-term symptoms of overweight individuals affected by COVID-19. Participants (n = 90) were divided into three groups according to the severity of acute COVID-19: mild (no hospitalization), moderate (hospitalization, without oxygen support), and severe/critical cases (hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit). We assessed body composition with a tetrapolar multifrequency bioimpedance, hemodynamic variables (heart rate, blood pressure, and peripheral oxygen saturation-SpO2) at rest, and the Bruce test with direct gas exchange. Two assessments with a one-year interval were performed. The most prevalent long-term symptoms were memory deficit (66.7%), lack of concentration (51.7%), fatigue (65.6%), and dyspnea (40%). Bruce test presented a time effect with an increase in the distance walked after 1 year just for severe/critical group (p < 0.05). SpO2 was significantly lower in the severe/critical group up to 5 min after the Bruce test when compared to the mild group, and diastolic blood pressure at the end of the Bruce test was significantly higher in the severe/critical group when compared to mild group (p < 0.05; for all comparisons). A time effect was observed for body composition, with increased lean mass, skeletal muscle mass, fat-free mass, and lean mass just for the severe/critical group after 1 year (p < 0.05). Cardiopulmonary fitness parameters did not differ among the groups, except for respiratory quotient with higher values for the severe/critical group when compared to itself after 1 year. All COVID-19 patients might present long-term sequelae, regardless of the acute disease severity. Reassessing and identifying the most prevalent long-term sequelae are essential to perform more precise health promotion interventions.

Effects of a multi-professional intervention on body composition, physical fitness and biochemical markers in overweight COVID-19 survivors: a clinical trial.

Introduction: The sequelae post-COVID can affect different systems. In this sense, considering the multi-factorial etiology of COVID-19, multi-professional interventions could be a relevant strategy for recovery health indicators. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of multi-professional intervention on body composition, physical fitness, and biomarkers in overweight COVID-19 survivors with different symptomatology. Methodology: A non-randomized parallel group intervention included 69 volunteers (BMI ≥25 kg/m2), divided into three groups according to SARS CoV-2 symptomatology, but only 35 finished the longitudinal protocol [control group (n = 11); moderate group (n = 17) and severe group (n = 7)]. The groups were submitted to a multi-professional program (nutritional intervention, psychoeducation, and physical exercise intervention) for 8 weeks, and the volunteers underwent body composition assessments (primary outcome) and physical and biochemical tests (secondary outcome) in pre- and post-intervention. This study was registered on the Clinical Trials Registration Platform number: RBR-4mxg57b and with the local research ethics committee protocol under number: 4,546,726/2021. Results: After the 8-week multi-professional intervention, the following results were observed for the moderate COVID-19 group: improved dynamic strength of lower- and (p = 0.003), upper-limbs (p = 0.008), maximal isometric lumbar-traction strength (p = 0.04), flexibility (p = 0.0006), and albumin (p = 0.0005), as well as a reduction in the C reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.003) and fasting glucose (p = 0.001); for the severe COVID-19 group: an improvement in dynamic lower-body strength (p = 0.001), higher values of albumin (p = 0.005) and HDL-c (p = 0.002), and lower values of CRP (p = 0.05), and for the control group: an improvement in sit-up repetitions (p = 0.008), and a reduction of CRP (p = 0.01), fasting glucose (p = 0.001) and total cholesterol (p = 0.04) were identified. All experimental groups reduced triglycerides after intervention (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Finally, 8 weeks of multiprofessional intervention can be an efficient tool for reversing the inflammatory process and promoting improvements in daily activities and quality of life, although it is believed that the severe COVID-19 group needs longer interventions to improve different health indicators. Clinical Trial Registration: https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/, identifier: RBR-4mxg57b.

Effects of a Multi-Professional Intervention on Mental Health of Middle-Aged Overweight Survivors of COVID-19: A Clinical Trial.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a multi-professional intervention model on the mental health of middle-aged, overweight survivors of COVID-19. A clinical trial study with parallel groups and repeated measures was conducted. For eight weeks, multi-professional interventions were conducted (psychoeducation, nutritional intervention, and physical exercises). One hundred and thirty-five overweight or obese patients aged 46.46 ± 12.77 years were distributed into four experimental groups: mild, moderate, severe COVID, and control group. The instruments were used: mental health continuum-MHC, revised impact scale-IES-r, generalized anxiety disorder-GAD-7, and Patient health questionnaire PHQ-9, before and after eight weeks. The main results indicated only a time effect, with a significant increase in global MHC scores, emotional well-being, social well-being, and psychological well-being, as well as detected a significant reduction in global IES-R scores, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal, in addition to a reduction in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it was possible to identify those psychoeducational interventions that effectively reduced anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms in post-COVID-19 patients, regardless of symptomatology, in addition to the control group. However, moderate and severe post-COVID-19 patients need to be monitored continuously since the results of these groups did not follow the response pattern of the mild and control groups.

Body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight or obese people post COVID-19: A comparative study.

The present study aimed to evaluate the body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness of overweight or obese people after COVID-19. 171 volunteers of both sexes (men, n = 93 and women, n = 78) between 19 and 65 years old were allocated into three groups according to the severity of their symptoms of COVID-19: non-hospitalized people/mild symptoms (n = 61), hospitalized (n = 58), and hospitalized in an intensive care unit-ICU (n = 52). Two laboratory visits were carried out 24 h apart. First, a medical consultation was carried out, with subsequent measurement of body weight and height (calculation of body mass index) and body composition assessment via electrical bioimpedance. After 24 h, a cardiorespiratory test was performed using the Bruce protocol, with a direct gas exchange analysis. Hospitalized individuals had significantly higher values for fat mass and body fat percentage than non-hospitalized individuals (p < 0.05). Significantly higher values were found for heart rate (HR) and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) for individuals who were not hospitalized when compared to those hospitalized in the ICU (p < 0.05). Significantly higher values for distance, ventilation, and the relationship between respiratory quotient were found for non-hospitalized individuals compared to hospitalized individuals and those in the ICU (p < 0.05). After the cardiorespiratory test, higher values for peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) were observed for non-hospitalized individuals than for all hospitalized individuals (p < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher at the tenth and fifteenth minute post-Bruce test in hospitalized than in non-hospitalized participants (p < 0.05). Based on these results, proposals for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation are indispensable for hospitalized groups considering the responses of blood pressure. Monitoring HR, SpO2, and blood pressure are necessary during rehabilitation to avoid possible physical complications. Volume and intensity of exercise prescription should respect the physiologic adaptation. Given lower physical conditioning among all the groups, proposals for recovering from health conditions are urgent and indispensable for COVID-19 survivors.

Resting metabolic rate in bodybuilding: Differences between indirect calorimetry and predictive equations.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Estimating resting metabolic rate (RMR) is one of the main determinants of an athlete's energy needs. This study aimed to investigate the RMR of bodybuilding athletes using indirect calorimetry (IC) and compare it with predictive formulas proposed in the scientific literature. METHODS: 71 volunteers divided into four experimental groups: active control group for women (CGW; n = 16); active control group for men (CGM; n = 17); bodybuilder women (BBW; n = 13); and bodybuilder men (BBM; n = 25) were evaluated. The body composition was performed using the bioelectrical impedance (BIA), and the RMR was measured using an IC. The data obtained from the BIA instrument were used to calculate the RMR of all volunteers using six equations. Data normality was tested, and the unpaired t-test compared anthropometric parameters, body composition, and RMR. The Bland-Altman (B&A) plot was used to analyze the agreement between IC, BIA, and predictive equations, and the difference between the methods was calculated. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc was used for RMR analysis and adjusted for body weight and skeletal muscle mass. RESULTS: The main findings indicated that the Johnstone equation showed a large discrepancy underestimating the RMR of BBW and BBM when compared to IC, and the De Lorenzo and Tinsley equations (a) approached the more accurate analysis method of measuring RMR in BBW and BBM, respectively. CONCLUSION: Professionals who work with bodybuilding and performance will be able to use the present study to improve their nutrition support.

The effectiveness of high-intensity interval training on body composition of rodent models of obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The present systematic review was compiled to analyze the effectiveness of High-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols on the body composition of rodents with obesity. Databases were searched until February 2021 for experimental trials in rodents with a minimum duration of four weeks of HIIT and endpoints associated with obesity. The data were analyzed by meta-analysis performed for comparisons of body composition. Sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the consistency of individual researches. Of all of the 524 studies found, only 14 were included. The analysis showed a significant reduction in body weight ([CI 95%: -8.35; -1.98] P ≤ 0.01), adiposity index ([IC 95%: -1.04; -0.80] P ≤ 0.01), and fat pads ([IC 95%: -0.59; -0.06] P ≤ 0.01). HIIT performed on treadmill or water was effective to reduce body weight (P < 0.05). In conclusion, HIIT attenuated both body weight and adiposity induced either by HFD (high-fat diet) or by GOM (genetic obese model), thereby inducing positive changes in body composition.