Home-based exercise for adults with overweight or obesity: A rapid review

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the ability of people globally to consistently engage in their typical physical activity and exercise behaviour, contributing to the rising number of people living with overweight and obesity. The imposed government lockdowns and quarantine periods saw an increase in social media influencers delivering their own home-based exercise programmes, but these are unlikely to be an evidence-based, efficacious, long-term solution to tackle sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity. This rapid review aims to conceptualise home-based exercise and physical activity programmes, by extracting relevant programme characteristics regarding the availability of evidence and effectiveness of home-based exercise programmes. Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria, of which there were varied reports of significant positive effects of the exercise programme on weight management and related outcomes. The two most common measures were Body Mass Index and body mass, as of which almost all reported a trend of post intervention reduction. Some programmes reported qualitative data, identifying barriers to physical activity and preferred programme components, highlighting a need to consider factors outside of physiological measures. The findings provide guidance and direction for the development of future home-based physical activity and exercise programmes for adults living with overweight and obesity.