Study ranks the most popular pandemic exercises on TikTok
FOOTBALL (SOCCER), basketball, boxing, and volleyball top the list of popular pandemic exercises on video-sharing platform TikTok, according to a May 2021 study by meta-search website iPrice Group.
The list of exercises was generated through Apple Watch usage and their popularity was ranked based on Tiktok hashtag views worldwide recorded on May 10. Excluded were those with inaccurate price information — how much one has to invest to do these exercises (excluding trainer fees) — and those that were irrelevant to the Southeast Asian market (such as snowboarding). The number of calories burned by each exercise per hour was taken from the fitness app MyFitnessPal. Data on price were taken from iPrice’s database of 6 billion products.
According to iPrice, the top four exercises on the list are “not COVID safe” — although this categorization is based on the competitive definition of the sport and not the TikTok videos, which include pandemic-friendly variations (such as juggling a football alone in your backyard).
Competitive football, basketball, and boxing involve contact; volleyball is played indoors, with a shared ball.
Seven out of the twelve exercises that make up the list, meanwhile, were classified “COVID safe” by iPrice. Of these safe exercises, running, cycling, and tennis burn the most calories. These exercises were deemed safer than others because they are individual activities (with the exception of tennis), that are non-contact, and done outside (for the most part).
Meanwhile, badminton (ranked 11 in popularity) is a gray area since it is played on courts that are smaller than tennis courts, with some located in enclosed, air-conditioned quarters.
Those who want to gain TikTok views and keep safe should engage in the exercises listed below.
- Running (533 kcal burned/hr., cost of entry: P3,331) — a high-impact exercise that can raise good cholesterol levels and increase lung function and use
- Cycling (485 kcal burned/hr., cost of entry: P5,793) — an alternative to running that can build muscles in the lower extremities
- Tennis (388 kcal burned/hr., cost of entry: P5,358) — a sport that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 56% when played three hours a week
- HIIT (266 kcal burned/hr., cost of entry: P8,351) — an anaerobic exercise (or an exercise that breaks down glucose — one of the body’s preferred source of fuel — for energy without using oxygen) that can increase bone strength and density
- Walking (184 kcal burned/hr., cost of entry: P2,124) — slower than running and other gaits, which can help with weight maintenance and balance
- Surfing (145 kcal burned/hr., cost of entry: P13,227) — an outdoor activity that can boost one’s mood, among other things
- Yoga (121 kcal burned/hr., cost of entry: P3,234) — a practice consisting of slow movements and deep breathing that can relieve back pain and arthritis symptoms
SHIFT TO ONLINE
Seventy-nine percent of Filipinos interviewed in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Pulse of Asia: The Health of Asia Barometer, a 2020 Asia-wide benchmarking tool, already use digital health platforms and personal health technologies such as smartwatches and fitness trackers.
The coronavirus pandemic hit the fitness industry hard, Gabriel Pangalangan, marketing manager of UFC Gym Philippines, told BusinessWorld in July 2020. He said that fitness coaches have since adapted by strengthening their online presence and boosting their personal brands through podcasts, live-stream workout classes, and YouTube videos.
An earlier 2020 iPrice study found that the Philippines was ranked 11th among countries with the most TikTok downloads. — Patricia B. Mirasol
