<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Study aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of a social media exercise platform (HeiaHeia, Helsinki,
Finland) on the level of physical activity, physical fitness, wellbeing and body weight of the service users.
Material and methods: The subject group consisted of 2862 individuals who voluntarily participated in a web survey. Their
age, gender, body mass index, physical fitness level and activity information were self-reported.
Results: Most of the service users (78.1%) exercised more than three times a week. About 75% of the users reported that they
were in good or excellent physical fitness, while about 50% were overweight. More than half (64.6%) of the service users
reported that they had perceived an increase in their level of physical activity; and 46.4% of them reported that they had perceived
an advance in their physical fitness after using the social media service. In addition, 54.0% of the users perceived an
increase in their wellbeing. Every fifth (21.3%) user reported a decreased body weight after using the service. Those users with
lower levels of physical fitness, lower physical activity and who were overweight were more likely to report that the use of the
present service was beneficial. In total, about 75% of the service users reported at least one benefit after using the service.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the use of the social media exercise service can lead to an enhanced perceived
level of physical activity, fitness and wellbeing. It also impacts positively on the users’ body weight. Thus, the present social
media service can be recommended for use, especially for overweight, unfit and sedentary customers.</abstract>

Study aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of a social media exercise platform (HeiaHeia, Helsinki,
Finland) on the level of physical activity, physical fitness, wellbeing and body weight of the service users.
Material and methods: The subject group consisted of 2862 individuals who voluntarily participated in a web survey. Their
age, gender, body mass index, physical fitness level and activity information were self-reported.
Results: Most of the service users (78.1%) exercised more than three times a week. About 75% of the users reported that they
were in good or excellent physical fitness, while about 50% were overweight. More than half (64.6%) of the service users
reported that they had perceived an increase in their level of physical activity; and 46.4% of them reported that they had perceived
an advance in their physical fitness after using the social media service. In addition, 54.0% of the users perceived an
increase in their wellbeing. Every fifth (21.3%) user reported a decreased body weight after using the service. Those users with
lower levels of physical fitness, lower physical activity and who were overweight were more likely to report that the use of the
present service was beneficial. In total, about 75% of the service users reported at least one benefit after using the service.
Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that the use of the social media exercise service can lead to an enhanced perceived
level of physical activity, fitness and wellbeing. It also impacts positively on the users’ body weight. Thus, the present social
media service can be recommended for use, especially for overweight, unfit and sedentary customers.

Impact of a social media exercise service on individuals and employees

Department of Leadership and Military Pedagogy, National Defence University, Helsinki, Finland

Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

Biomedical Human Kinetics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Impact of a social media exercise service on individuals and employees"}

Study aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of a social media exercise platform (HeiaHeia, Helsinki,
Finland) on the level of...

Impact of a social media exercise service on individuals and employees

Publié en ligne: 11 mai 2016

Pages: 65 - 71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/bhk-2016-0010

Mots clés
Physical activity, Fitness, Overweight

© University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Impact of a social media exercise service on individuals and employees

Publié en ligne: 11 mai 2016

Pages: 65 - 71

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/bhk-2016-0010

Mots clésPhysical activity, Fitness, Overweight

© University of Physical Education, Warsaw, Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
Physical activity, Fitness, Overweight