Effects of a Home-based Virtual Group Exercise Program in Asian Women.

Abstract

Background: Suboptimal health status (SHS) has become a public health issue and virtual exercise could bridge health disparities across borders. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a home-based virtual group exercise intervention among Asian women.

Methods: A total of 370 participants were recruited from a health social network across five regions globally. Six months of group exercise was delivered virtually 40 minutes per time every other day, with the instruction of staff from the health social network. Women completed baseline assessments of SHS, physical health, mental well-being, social interaction, and grit. The follow-up survey was carried out after the intervention.

Results: The home-based virtual group exercise showed an increase in social interaction in pre-post comparisons. The improvement of SHS was only significant in the participants who exercised frequently (i.e., attended the group exercise more than three times per week), indicating the intervention effects under higher intensity of group exercise.

Conclusion: Our study addresses the previous limitations of traditional in-person exercise programs and provides opportunities for people to participate in exercise at home, particularly when outdoor activity is limited. The effects may provide insight into the development of novel interventions in the context of health promotion.