Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Body Composition and Fitness Performance among Football Players in Negro African Environment

Context and Objective: The nutritional and sports dimension of the lockdown implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic is unexplored in the African environment. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on body composition and fitness performance in Congolese football players. Methods: This was an observational study carried out in Brazzaville between February 9 and October 30, 2020. It included 16 male players among Congolese senior national team and 11 male football players of first division Brazzaville clubs. Two types of measurements were carried out: anthropometric measures (height, body mass, total fat percent, lean body mass);physical capacities [30 m sprint, repeated sprint, aerobic endurance (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test), vertical jump (Squat Jump test, Countermovement test)]. The measurements were realized at 4 times: before lockdown (month of february, T0), 1st week of june (T1), 1st week of september (T2), 1st week of october (T3). Data were compared using Student t test, Sokal S test, Anova, Newman-Keuls test (multiple contrasts) and correlation analysis. Results: A significant increase in body mass (p Conclusion: The present data suggest that COVID-19 lockdown promotes weight gain and decreased physical ability in football players.

Changes Induced by Physical Activity, Weight Loss and Calorie Restriction in Body Composition, Lipoproteins and Functional Capacity in Obese Congolese Women

Background. The effects of physical exercises combined with a low-calorie diet on weight loss, body composition, lipoproteins profile, and physical fitness had been well described. However, Central Africa’s studies investigating these kinds of diets and exercise regimens are lacking. Objective. To investigate the effects of adding 14-weeks exercises to a hypocaloric diet on changes in body composition, lipoproteins concentrations, and physical capacities in obese Congolese women. Population and Methods. In total, 34 obese women aged 30 - 39 years (mean age: 33.7 ± 2.4 years) assigned to 14-weeks training program and low energy ketogenic diet. Body composition was assessed using classic methods and impedancemetry. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and fasting serum insulin were assessing using enzymatic colorimetric and radioim-munoradiometric methods. HOMA-IR and lipoproteins concentrations were assessed using standardized laboratory methods. VO2peak was measured on a treadmill during a progressive exercise test. Speed, cadence and stride length were measured along the 10-m level walkway. Muscular endurance was measured using the tests of sit-up and inflections-extensions of elbows. All the variables of the study were assessed at the beginning, in the 7-weeks, and in the 14-weeks of training methods. Results. Declines in body weight (16%), percent fat (12.1%), fat weight (26.4%), abdominal fat (34.2%), and waist circumference (10.4%) were found. A significant decrease in FPG (13%), fasting serum insulin (60.9%), HOMA-IR (64.7%), total cholesterol (12.2%), LDL-cholesterol (20.3%), triglycerides (92.8%), and VLDL-triglycerides (17.5%) was shown. In contrast, significant increase in HDL-cholesterol (27.13%) was found. The peak oxygen consumption VO2peak relative to body weight improved more in the 14-weeks training program (13.4%). Obese women exhibited higher values in the 14-weeks training program for speed gait (16.5%), cadence (9.1%), and stride length (15.7%) during normal walk and rapid walk. Weight loss combined with a low-calorie diet and 14-weeks training program improved significantly muscular endurance capacities. Conclusion. Exercise added to hypocaloric diet leads to decreases in body composition, to improve in insulin sensitivity, to enhancement of VO2peak and functional fitness. This may be helpful for the treatment of the metabolic complications of abdominal obesity.