Effects of "Exercise Snack" in Individuals With Obesity

Obesity is associated with reduced physical fitness, functional limitations, and poorer quality of life (Kell et al., 2001). Nutritional support and supervised exercise can improve weight management and physical health, but low motivation and perceived lack of time often limit participation to physical activity (Alberga et al., 2013; Baillot et al., 2021). Evidence shows that shorter-time exercise strategies may help overcome these barriers and support training adherence (Poon et al., 2020). Brief activity bouts distributed throughout the day, including vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity and structured "exercise snacks," may help to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle function, and metabolic health (Islam et al., 2022; Ahmadi et al., 2024; Wang et al., 2024). Observational evidence also links VILPA to lower mortality risk (Stamatakis et al., 2023). Combining brief exercise bouts with education to interrupt prolonged sitting may therefore address both insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviour (Dunstan et al., 2021; Dogra et al., 2022; Pinto et al., 2023). Generally, research has largely focused on healthy, inactive adults, with limited evidence in people with overweight or obesity (Jones et al., 2024). Rafiei et al. (2021) reported acute improvements in insulin and non-esterified fatty acid responses following brief stair-climbing bouts compared with prolonged sitting in adults with obesity. Schmidt et al. (2001) found comparable improvements in body composition and aerobic fitness following accumulated or continuous exercise during caloric restriction. The effects of exercise snacks combined with education to reduce sedentary behaviour nevertheless remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effects of an exercise-snacking programme on body composition, physical fitness, quality of life, and exercise adherence in adults with obesity.

Inclusion Criteria: * Male or female gender * Body Mass Index more than 30 kg/m2 * Participation in physical activity fewer than twice per week * informed consent signature Exclusion Criteria: * aged more than 70 years * history of disabling musculoskeletal or osteoarticular conditions that prevent regular participation in physical activity, with a pain score \> of 7 out of 10 arbitrary units on the visual analogue scale (VAS) * history of hip or knee replacement * Surgery within the 6 months preceding the study * presence of severe hip or knee osteoarthrosis * presence of cardiac, neurological or psychiatric disordes