Tehran University Medical Journal (Feb 2024)
The effectiveness of intermittent Nordic exercises with and without VR on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness in boys with internet addiction
Abstract
Background: Being sedentary due to internet addiction is a common public health problem that causes overweight and obesity. Novel methods are needed for weight control behaviors. This study aimed to determine effects of short-term (two weeks) and moderate-term (four weeks) of virtual reality (VR) exercise program with and without interval Nordic walking (INW) in adolescent boys on novel body composition and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) parameters; body adiposity index (BAI), abdominal volume index (AVI), conicity index (CI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and a body shape index (ABSI). Methods: In a semi-experimental trial during July to December 2023, 70 adolescent boys (age 14.8 years, body mass index (BMI)=24.4 kg/m2 and VO2max 38 ml/kg/min) with the Young IA tests score ranging over five, were selected from the city of Karaj and randomly was classified to VR, INW, VR+INW and control groups. Individual and combined exercise programs of VR and INW were performed (three session in week for 30 min) for two and or four weeks. The parameters were evaluated at the baseline and the follow up phases (two and four weeks after the interventions period) with a repeated measure ANOVA. Results: According to Young's internet addiction test scores at the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference between the control and intervention groups (P≥0.05). It has been observed that internet addiction negatively affects cardiorespiratory fitness. When a 2-week intervention of VR exercises was implemented along with INW, the improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) was better than when VR exercises alone lasted for four weeks (P≤0.05). After four weeks of INW intervention, separately and in combination with VR, a significant improvement was observed in VO2max, WHtR and BAI values compared to the control group (P≤0.01). Conclusion: Although improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness of boys with IA can be achieved by doing short and medium term INW, VR and INW+VR exercises, longer interventions, i.e., four weeks or more, cause more significant changes in the novel body composition.
