Comparing In-Person to Tele-Exercise High-Intensity Interval Training in Adults With Class II/III Obesity
Recommended Citation
Chionis L, Watanabe M, Reynolds EL, Kerrigan D, Horowitz JF, Haus JM, Chant E, Banerjee M, Callaghan BC. Comparing In-Person to Tele-Exercise High-Intensity Interval Training in Adults With Class II/III Obesity. AACE Endocrinol Diabetes. 2026.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-5-2026
Publication Title
AACE Endocrinology and Diabetes
Keywords
high-intensity interval training (HIIT);obesity;exercise;telehealth;tele-exercise
Abstract
Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use of tele-exercise. Providers must now determine the most suitable modality of supervised exercise training for patients. This study compared exercise attendance and intensity during supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) between in-person and tele-exercise sessions among adults with class II/III obesity. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial of 62 participants examining exercise and surgical weight loss effects on neuropathy. Participants underwent 2 in-person supervised and 1 unsupervised HIIT sessions weekly for 2 years. After the pandemic onset, sessions shifted to tele-exercise. We evaluated associations between session attendance and intensity with pre- versus post-lockdown timing. Results: Supervised session attendance increased after switching from in-person to tele-exercise sessions (incident rate ratio [IRR]: 1.50, 95% CI: [1.27, 1.79]). Pre-pandemic follow-up time was associated with decreased attendance (IRR: 0.95, 95% CI: [0.94, 0.97]), but supervised session attendance increased after the COVID-19 shutdown (IRR: 1.05, 95% CI: [1.03, 1.07]). Participants with prediabetes or diabetes showed reduced attendance, whereas those undergoing bariatric surgery had increased attendance. No change was seen in exercise intensity after switching from in-person to tele-exercise sessions (point estimate: –0.01, 95% CI: [–0.02, –0.01]), but small effects of follow-up time on exercise intensity were seen with increases over time before the pandemic and decreases after the lockdown. Conclusion: Tele-exercise resulted in improved attendance for HIIT training among adults with class II/III obesity without meaningful differences in exercise intensity, supporting its use for this population.
PubMed ID
Not assigned.
