Publications by authors named "Alexios Batrakoulis"

Objective: To evaluate the effects of resistance training on cardiometabolic health-related outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and overweight/obesity.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Data Sources: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception up to May 2024.

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a structured coordinative exercise intervention based on motor skill elements on physical fitness (PF), motor competence (MC) and inhibitory control (IC) in preschool children. A total of 41 kindergarten children (27 boys and 17 girls) aged between 5 and 6 years participated and were divided into exercise (EG; n = 18) and control (CG; n = 23) groups. The exercise group participated in a structured coordinative exercise programme focusing on locomotor and balance skills such as side-stepping, galloping, jumping and running for 30 min, 2 days a week for 8 weeks.

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Purpose: This study aimed to assess the association between nutrition behavior, food intake, being overweight, and obesity among school-aged children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 years. Additionally, it sought to examine how these factors influence being overweight and obese within this population.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative multistage cluster sample of 4200 Pakistani school-aged children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 years from 62 schools across seven random districts in Punjab province, Pakistan.

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The health and fitness (H&F) sector is rapidly evolving and appears to be a vibrant space for industry stakeholders with a great potential globally. This observational study aimed to identify the most popular trends related to H&F services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time, focused on the industry status after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and aimed to detect potential differences with the recent results observed in other countries or regions. Additionally, a chi-square analysis was applied to determine the significant differences between trends and demographics, such as sex, age, experience, and work status.

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Childhood overweight and obesity are increasingly prevalent in Pakistan, posing significant public health challenges. This study explores the associations of school-level factors and school sports facility parameters with overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study across seven random districts in Punjab province, Pakistan, was conducted using a representative multistage random cluster sample.

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Poulios, A, Fotiou, C, Draganidis, D, Avloniti, A, Rosvoglou, A, Batrakoulis, A, Tsimeas, P, Papanikolaou, K, Deli, CK, Stampoulis, T, Douroudos, II, Chatzinikolaou, A, Jamurtas, AZ, and Fatouros, IG. The energy expenditure associated with body-weight resistance exercises of various movement patterns performed at different durations. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-Although body-weight resistance exercises (BWRE) are popular and effective for body mass reduction and neuromuscular performance, limited information exists regarding their total energy expenditure (TEE).

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Background: Due to the worldwide reach of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities across the globe deemed it essential to enforce exceptional containment measures. Maintaining physical activity (PA) during this time was only feasible through engaging in activities at home. Therefore, this study focused on elucidating the levels of PA and well-being among Somali students in the aftermath of the lockdown measures implemented by governments at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference between the levels of imagery and mental toughness in the context of sports performance in male and female athletes. A total of 344 track and field athletes, 205 male (59.6%, 23.

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Background: Structured aerobic or resistance training alone seems to be a beneficial tool for improving glucose homeostasis, chronic systemic inflammation, resting cardiovascular function, and mental health in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the present study was to synthesize the available data on the effectiveness of combined aerobic and resistance training (CART) on glycemic control, blood pressure, inflammation, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and quality of life (QoL) in overweight and obese individuals with T2DM.

Methods: A database search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from inception up to May 2023.

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Breast cancer survivors with obesity are at a high risk of cancer recurrence, comorbidity, and mortality. This review aims to systematically evaluate the effects of combined aerobic and resistance training (CART) on body composition, lipid homeostasis, inflammation, adipokines, cancer-related fatigue, sleep, and quality of life in breast cancer patients and survivors with overweight/obesity. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases from inception up to January 8, 2024.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the impact of a 12-week home-based circuit training (HBCT) program on health metrics in overweight/obese older adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) during the COVID-19 lockdown.
  • It involves a randomized controlled trial with 70 participants divided into an intervention group (HBCT) and a no-exercise control group, assessing changes in cardiometabolic health, musculoskeletal fitness, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
  • Evaluations were done using various tests and blood samples to measure strength, mobility, lipid profiles, and overall well-being at different stages throughout the training.*
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Introduction: Many COVID-19 patients display adverse symptoms, such as reduced physical ability, poor quality of life, and impaired pulmonary function. Therefore, this systematic review is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of physical exercise on various psychophysiological indicators among COVID-19 patients who may be at any stage of their illness (i.e.

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The health and fitness sector is evolving and appears to be an important field not only for consumers but also for gym operators/managers, exercise professionals, training providers and educators with great potential worldwide. Our aim of this cross-sectional survey was to investigate the most attractive health and fitness trends in Iran for the first time and to observe any potential differences with the recent results reported in other regions. A national online survey was conducted, using the methodology of similar international surveys conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine since 2007.

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Background: Lifestyle modifications involving diet and exercise are recommended for patients diagnosed with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the effects of combined aerobic exercise and diet (AEDT) on various cardiometabolic health-related indicators among individuals with obesity and T2DM.

Methodology: A comprehensive search of the PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases was conducted for this meta-analysis.

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The physical activity, exercise and wellness sector is rapidly growing and seems to be an exciting field for business and professional development with great potential globally. The purpose of this observational and cross-sectional study was to determine the most popular health and fitness trends in Southern Europe for the first time, including data from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Cyprus, and to investigate any potential differences in this area compared to the Pan-European and global fitness trends for 2023. A national online survey was conducted in five Southern European countries, using the methodology of similar regional and worldwide surveys conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine since 2007.

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Physical activity (PA) and emotional intelligence (EI) are integral parts of human nature. Body image (BI) and body mass index (BMI) may be indications of the psycho-emotional and physical health of human beings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between PA and EI of Greek adults living with overweight and obesity, as well as to identify the BI and EI differences in this population.

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Various mind-body fitness modalities such as Pilates, yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong have become an accepted part of the physical activity, exercise, and leisure sector, serving several populations eligible for meditative movement activities. However, no robust evidence is present in the current literature supporting the efficacy of these meditative movement activities on health, fitness, and well-being markers among obese adults. Interestingly, the feasibility and safety of mind-body fitness programs in this cohort are still questionable.

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This study investigated whether Greek Orthodox Christian fasting during Holy Week can change body composition and cardiometabolic parameters in overweight individuals, and whether these changes are maintained one week after fasting cessation (FC). Body composition and physiological and biochemical parameters were measured before, immediately after (n = 23) and one week after FC (subgroup of n = 10). Fasting resulted in decreased body weight, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index and total body fat, as well as blood glucose, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

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Physical activity has been documented as a foundational approach for weight management and obesity, improving several cardiometabolic and mental health indices. However, it is not clear whether yoga practice can induce beneficial improvements in anthropometric and body composition parameters, performance, metabolic health, and well-being among overweight/obese people. The aim of this topical review was to catalog training studies examining the psychophysiological responses to yoga interventions in order to detect which outcomes have been investigated, the research methods applied, and the conclusions.

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The prevalence of overweightness and obesity has been documented as a major public health issue since it has increased at an alarming rate worldwide. Structured physical exercise programs have been reported as an essential strategy for preventing, managing, and treating obesity, inducing critical improvements in various physiological and psychological markers. However, it is unclear whether Pilates training can elicit positive changes in body composition, physical fitness, cardiometabolic health, and well-being among overweight and obese populations.

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Purpose: This study evaluated how extended match time (90 + 30 min) affected physiological responses and fatigue in male soccer players.

Methods: Twenty competitive players (mean ± SD: age, 20 ± 1 yr; maximal oxygen uptake, 59 ± 4 mL·min -1 ·kg -1 ) completed an experimental match with their activity pattern and heart rate assessed throughout the game, whereas countermovement jump performance and repeated sprint ability were tested and quadriceps muscle biopsies and venous blood samples were taken at baseline and after 90 and 120 min of match play.

Results: Less high-intensity running (12%) was performed in extra time in association with fewer intense accelerations and decelerations per minute compared with normal time.

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Regular exercise has been reported as a fundamental piece of the management and treatment puzzle of obesity, playing a vital role in numerous psychological indicators. However, it is unclear whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can improve critical psychological health markers such as adherence, exercise enjoyment, affective responses, health-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression in overweight and obese adults. The purpose of this topical review was to catalogue studies investigating the psychological responses to HIIT in order to identify what psychological outcomes have been assessed, the research methods used, and the results.

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Background: Although regular exercise is recommended for preventing and treating overweight/obesity, the most effective exercise type for improving cardiometabolic health in individuals with overweight/obesity remains largely undecided. This network meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and rank the comparative efficacy of 5 exercise modalities on cardiometabolic health measures in individuals with overweight/obesity.

Methods: A database search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception up to September 2020.

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This study examined the dose-response effects of a 1-year hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training programme (DoIT) on various musculoskeletal fitness parameters in inactive overweight and obese adults in a gym setting. Ninety-seven middle-aged (44.8 ± 5.

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Aging is associated with the development of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation (LGSI) characterized by increased circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP). Collective evidence suggests that elevated levels of inflammatory mediators such as CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-) are correlated with deteriorated skeletal muscle mass and function, though the molecular footprint of this observation in the aged human skeletal muscle remains obscure. Based on animal models showing impaired protein synthesis and enhanced degradation in response to LGSI, we compared here the response of proteolysis- and protein synthesis-related signaling proteins as well as the satellite cell and amino acid transporter protein content between healthy older adults with increased versus physiological blood hs-CRP levels in the fasted (basal) state and after an anabolic stimulus comprised of acute resistance exercise (RE) and protein feeding.

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Synopsis of recent research by authors named "Alexios Batrakoulis"

  • - Alexios Batrakoulis focuses on the intersection of nutrition, physical activity, and public health, particularly regarding obesity and health behaviors among school-aged children and adolescents in various countries, notably Pakistan.
  • - His research includes investigations into the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity patterns and health trends, analyzing demographic differences and fitness behaviors in response to the pandemic in regions such as Somalia and the UAE.
  • - Additionally, Batrakoulis explores the effectiveness of various forms of exercise, including combined aerobic and resistance training, on health outcomes in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cancer, highlighting the significant role of structured physical activity in improving overall health and quality of life.