The effectiveness of a 17-week lifestyle intervention on health behaviors among airline pilots during COVID-19

Purpose:The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a 17-week,3-component lifestyle intervention for enhancing health behaviors during the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Methods:A parallel-group(intervention and control)study was conducted amongst 79 airline pilots over a 17-week period during the COVID-19 pandemic.The intervention group(n=38)received a personalized sleep,dietary,and physical activity(PA)program.The control group(n=41)received no intervention.Outcome measures for sleep,fruit and vegetable intake,PA,and subjective health were measured though an online survey before and after the 17-week period.The changes in outcome measures were used to determine the efficacy of the intervention.Results:Significant main effects for time￡group were found for International Physical Activity Questionnaire-walk(p=0.02)and for all other outcome measures(p<0.01).The intervention group significantly improved in sleep duration(p<0.01;d=1.35),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score(p<0.01;d=1.14),moderate-to-vigorous PA(p<0.01;d=1.44),fruit and vegetable intake(p<0.01;d=2.09),Short Form 12v2 physical score(p<0.01;d=1.52),and Short Form 12v2 mental score(p<0.01;d=2.09).The control group showed significant negative change for sleep duration,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score,and Short Form 12v2 mental score(p<0.01).Conclusion:Results provide preliminary evidence that a 3-component healthy sleep,eating,and PA intervention elicit improvements in health behaviors and perceived subjective health in pilots and may improve quality of life during an unprecedented global pandemic.

Metabolic and performance responses of male runners wearing 3 types of footwear: Nike Vaporfly 4%, Saucony Endorphin racing flats, and their own shoes

Purpose We compared running economy(RE)and 3-km time-trial(TT)variables of runners wearing Nike Vaporfly 4%(VP4),Saucony Endorphin lightweight racing flats(FLAT),and their habitual running(OWN)footwear.Methods Eighteen male recreational runners(age=33.5±11.9 year(mean±SD),peak oxygen uptake(VO_(2peak))=55.8±4.4 mL/kg·min)attended 4 sessions approximately 7 days apart.The first session consisted of a VO_(2peak) test to inform subsequent RE speeds set at 60%,70%,and 80%of the speed eliciting VO2peak.In subsequent sessions,treadmill RE and 3-km TTs were assessed in the 3 footwear conditions in a randomized,counterbalanced crossover design.Results Oxygen consumption(mL/kg·min)was less in VP4(from 4.3%to 4.4%,p≤0.002)and FLAT(from 2.7%to 3.4%,p≤0.092)vs.OWN across intensities,with a non-significant difference between VP4 and FLAT(1.0%-1.7%,p≥0.292).Findings related to energy cost(W/kg)and energetics cost of transport(J/kg·m)were comparable.VP43-km TT performance(11:07.6±0:56.6 mm:ss)was enhanced vs.OWN by 16.6 s(2.4%,p=0.005)and vs.FLAT by 13.0 s(1.8%,p=0.032).The 3-km times between OWN and FLAT(0.5%,p=0.747)were similar.Most runners(n=11,61%)ran their fastest TT in VP4.Conclusion Overall,VP4 improved laboratory-based RE measures in male recreational runners at relative speeds compared to OWN,but the RE improvements in VP4 were not significant vs.FLAT.More runners exhibited better treadmill TT performances in VP4(61%)vs.FLAT(22%)and OWN(17%).The variability in RE(-10.3%to 13.3%)and TT(-4.7%to 9.3%)improvements suggests that responses to different types of shoes are individualized and warrant further investigation.