Incidence, severity and perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 in the UK CrossFit population
Abstract Background Contemporary literature indicates that a higher body mass index (BMI) serves as a risk factor for metabolic disease and is also correlated with greater disease severity. Subsequently, it has been linked to increased COVID-19 severity. The purpose of the study was to investigate w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00318-9 |
| _version_ | 1818573685179547648 |
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| author | Athalie Redwood-Brown Grant William Ralston Jennifer Wilson |
| author_facet | Athalie Redwood-Brown Grant William Ralston Jennifer Wilson |
| author_sort | Athalie Redwood-Brown |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Contemporary literature indicates that a higher body mass index (BMI) serves as a risk factor for metabolic disease and is also correlated with greater disease severity. Subsequently, it has been linked to increased COVID-19 severity. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether regular CrossFit™ participation was associated with lower BMI, decreased COVID-19 severity and susceptibility. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1806 CrossFit™ (CF) participants. Participants were asked about their age (yrs), sex (male vs. female), ethnic group, body height (cm) and weight (kg). Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was computed and consistent with WHO (2018) criteria. Participants self-reported their training history, health and lifestyle history, nutritional customs, present training status and suspected levels of exposure to COVID-19. Once submitted the collected data were coded, cleaned and analysed. Results The final model comprised of 1806 CF individuals from an online survey response rate of 2086. The participants age ranged from 18 to 65+ yrs. Self-reported mean body mass index (BMI: kg/m2) reported that < 1% were underweight, 41% were healthy, 46% overweight, 10% class I obese, 2% class II obese, and < 1% class III obese. A Kruskal–Wallis H test compared gender and self-reported probability of being infected with COVID-19 with significant differences between subgroups (x2 (4, N = 1739) = 10.86, p = 0.03). Analysis of BMI and perceived severity of COVID-19 revealed a difference however not, significant (x2 (4, N = 1739) = 9.46, p = 0.051). Results on BMI and perceived probability of COVID-19 infection revealed no significant difference (x2 (4, N = 1739) = 2.68, p = 0.61). A separate analysis on BMI and perceived COVID-19 susceptibility revealed no significant difference (x2 (4, N = 1740) = 6.02, p = 0.20). Conclusions The purpose of the study was to establish whether habitual CrossFit™ participation is associated with reduced BMI, and to further investigate whether habitual participation impacted perceptions of disease. Results of the study indicate that self-reported CrossFit™ participation during the first UK lockdown, measured in minutes of exercise was indicative of a lower BMI. This has been associated with greater host immunity to disease. A history of CrossFit™ participation was not shown to impact perceptions of disease. However, our sample population reported few changes to habitual exercise during lockdown which may be due to the ‘community’ and increased adherence associated with CrossFit™. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:14:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c144ce4d14724d8aa1d18c79ce1d1f87 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-1847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:14:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| spelling | doaj.art-c144ce4d14724d8aa1d18c79ce1d1f872022-12-21T22:42:28ZengBMCBMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation2052-18472021-09-0113111210.1186/s13102-021-00318-9Incidence, severity and perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 in the UK CrossFit populationAthalie Redwood-Brown0Grant William Ralston1Jennifer Wilson2School of Science and Technology: Sport and Exercise Sciences, Nottingham Trent UniversityFiiT for Life Education LtdCollege of Science and Engineering: Sport and Exercise Science, University of DerbyAbstract Background Contemporary literature indicates that a higher body mass index (BMI) serves as a risk factor for metabolic disease and is also correlated with greater disease severity. Subsequently, it has been linked to increased COVID-19 severity. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether regular CrossFit™ participation was associated with lower BMI, decreased COVID-19 severity and susceptibility. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1806 CrossFit™ (CF) participants. Participants were asked about their age (yrs), sex (male vs. female), ethnic group, body height (cm) and weight (kg). Body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was computed and consistent with WHO (2018) criteria. Participants self-reported their training history, health and lifestyle history, nutritional customs, present training status and suspected levels of exposure to COVID-19. Once submitted the collected data were coded, cleaned and analysed. Results The final model comprised of 1806 CF individuals from an online survey response rate of 2086. The participants age ranged from 18 to 65+ yrs. Self-reported mean body mass index (BMI: kg/m2) reported that < 1% were underweight, 41% were healthy, 46% overweight, 10% class I obese, 2% class II obese, and < 1% class III obese. A Kruskal–Wallis H test compared gender and self-reported probability of being infected with COVID-19 with significant differences between subgroups (x2 (4, N = 1739) = 10.86, p = 0.03). Analysis of BMI and perceived severity of COVID-19 revealed a difference however not, significant (x2 (4, N = 1739) = 9.46, p = 0.051). Results on BMI and perceived probability of COVID-19 infection revealed no significant difference (x2 (4, N = 1739) = 2.68, p = 0.61). A separate analysis on BMI and perceived COVID-19 susceptibility revealed no significant difference (x2 (4, N = 1740) = 6.02, p = 0.20). Conclusions The purpose of the study was to establish whether habitual CrossFit™ participation is associated with reduced BMI, and to further investigate whether habitual participation impacted perceptions of disease. Results of the study indicate that self-reported CrossFit™ participation during the first UK lockdown, measured in minutes of exercise was indicative of a lower BMI. This has been associated with greater host immunity to disease. A history of CrossFit™ participation was not shown to impact perceptions of disease. However, our sample population reported few changes to habitual exercise during lockdown which may be due to the ‘community’ and increased adherence associated with CrossFit™.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00318-9COVID-19CrossFit™Functional exerciseHealthPhysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Athalie Redwood-Brown Grant William Ralston Jennifer Wilson Incidence, severity and perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 in the UK CrossFit population BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation COVID-19 CrossFit™ Functional exercise Health Physical activity |
| title | Incidence, severity and perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 in the UK CrossFit population |
| title_full | Incidence, severity and perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 in the UK CrossFit population |
| title_fullStr | Incidence, severity and perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 in the UK CrossFit population |
| title_full_unstemmed | Incidence, severity and perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 in the UK CrossFit population |
| title_short | Incidence, severity and perceived susceptibility of COVID-19 in the UK CrossFit population |
| title_sort | incidence severity and perceived susceptibility of covid 19 in the uk crossfit population |
| topic | COVID-19 CrossFit™ Functional exercise Health Physical activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00318-9 |
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