Effect of virtual reality-based exercise and physical exercise on adolescents with overweight and obesity: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a complex and multifactorial disease that has affected many adolescents in recent decades. Clinical practice guidelines recommend exercise as the key treatment option for adolescents with overweight and obesity. However, the effects of virtual reality (VR) exercise on the physical and brain health of adolescents with overweight and obese remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effects of physical and VR exercises on physical and brain outcomes and explore the differences in benefits between them. Moreover, we will apply a multiomics analysis to investigate the mechanism underlying the effects of physical and VR exercises on adolescents with overweight and obesity. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This randomised controlled clinical trial will include 220 adolescents with overweight and obesity aged between 11 and 17 years. The participants will be randomised into five groups after screening. Participants in the exercise groups will perform an exercise programme by adding physical or VR table tennis or soccer classes to routine physical education classes in schools three times a week for 8 weeks. Participants in the control group will maintain their usual physical activity. The primary outcome will be the change in body fat mass measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. The secondary outcomes will include changes in other physical health-related parameters, brain health-related parameters and multiomics variables. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital and registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Dissemination of the findings will include peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and media releases. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2300068786.