Excessive use of the Internet and digital devices has become a growing public health concern, contributing to mental health issues, sedentary lifestyles, and decreased well-being. Despite the increasing prevalence of digital overuse, there is no consensus on effective interventions to mitigate its impact. This article aimed to provide an updated perspective on current research into problematic use of digital devices and the Internet, and to explore the potential of physical exercise as a key strategy in prevention and treatment programs aimed at reducing such use. Based on the two previous objectives, this study also aimed to provide author-informed recommendations for digital detox interventions, supporting the inclusion of regular exercise, particularly outdoor exercise in natural environments, as a central component of such programs. Thirteen recommendations for physical exercise programs to be included as core parts of digital detox are suggested: (a) the type of physical exercise selected according to the participant’s motivations, (b) exercise intensity and volume adapted to the participant’s characteristics, (c) the avoidance of digital devices during exercise, (d) a duration of ≥12 weeks and ≥3 days/week, (e) the integration of other physical activities for a more active lifestyle, (f) the enhancement of mental health as a main goal, (g) collaborative and competitive physical exercise and sports, (h) the participant’s awareness of the improvements through feedback and information, (i) mindful activities, (j) outdoor physical activities and exercise, especially in natural environments, (k) conducted by multidisciplinary teams, (l) assessments using validated tests and scales, and (m) evaluation of long-term effects. In summary, this perspective article supports the inclusion of physical exercise as a key strategy in digital detox programs by offering recommendations for intervention designs aimed at reducing problematic digital use and enhancing overall well-being in individuals who have developed maladaptive patterns of digital device use.

The global rise in social media usage has led to an increasing prevalence of social network problematic use or addiction (SNPUA). Although previous research has identified a negative association between physical activity (PA) levels and some problematic digital behaviors, the relationship between PA and SNPUA remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine possible associations between PA and SNPUA. The search was registered in OSF and was conducted in November 2024 using the following search terms: ('Physical activity' or exercise) and (addiction or 'problematic use') and ('social network' or 'social media' or Instagram or Facebook or 'Tik Tok'). It was carried out in PubMed and Web of Science databases. A total of 255 articles were retrieved and 24 of them met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4 software. The majority of studies included university students (n = 14) and primary or secondary school students (n = 7). The participants' mean age ranged from 13.9 to 27.43 years. Female participants accounted for 50.8 % of the total sample. The meta-analysis involving 150,000+ participants revealed that PA is inversely related to SNPUA. Most of the included studies (14/24), involving 94 % of the sample, reported that those participants who engage in a higher amount of PA had lower levels of SNPUA. PA could be an effective tool to prevent or reduce social network addiction levels. However, inconsistency in collecting data on PA and SNPUA makes it difficult to draw solid conclusions.

Purpose : This study aimed to investigate fat utilization during 1 hour of cycling at maximal fat oxidation and, secondarily, to assess menstrual symptoms across different phases of the menstrual cycle. Methods : Fifteen physically active, naturally menstruating women (age = 25 [4] y, ) completed a randomized crossover study involving 1 hour cycling at maximal fat oxidation intensity during 3 menstrual cycle phases: early follicular, peri-ovulatory, and midluteal. Phases were identified individually using mobile app tracking, urinary luteinizing hormone tests, and daily basal temperature and body mass recordings. During exercise, ventilatory variables were measured breath by breath with a gas analyzer to estimate fat and carbohydrate oxidation, and heart rate and the rating of perceived exertion (6–20 a.u., Borg scale) were recorded. Data was analyzed using linear mixed effects modeling. Results : There was no main effect of menstrual cycle phase on total fat oxidized ( P = .388), total carbohydrate oxidized ( P = .265), or total energy expended ( P = .839) during exercise. However, a higher mean heart rate was detected in the peri-ovulatory phase compared with the early follicular phase ( P = .004), and participants reported higher rating of perceived exertion in the midluteal phase compared with early follicular ( P = .003) and peri-ovulatory phases ( P = .024). Menstrual symptom scores were higher in early follicular phase compared with peri-ovulatory and midluteal phases ( P < .001). Conclusions : Fat oxidation during exercise at maximal fat oxidation intensity was not affected by the phase of the menstrual cycle in healthy, young, physically active, naturally menstruating women. However, variations in heart rate and perceived exertion suggest that physiological and perceptual responses to exercise may differ across phases.

Purpose : While distance running training zones used to prescribe training through the heart rate (HR)-based approach are delimited by HRs associated ventilatory turn points, those in the race pace (RP)-based method are demarcated by percentages of competition average pace at a specific distance. However, no study has directly compared which method better ensures Training Execution Accuracy (TEA) to prescribed intensity zones. This study aimed to compare TEA, quantified as time spent in prescribed intensity zones, between HR- and RP-based training prescriptions during low-intensity continuous (LICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in distance runners. Methods : Using a randomized crossover design, 37 runners (38.9 [9.3] y) completed an incremental treadmill test to determine maximum oxygen uptake ( : 53.7 [6.5] mL·kg ⁻¹ ·min ⁻¹ ), ventilatory turn points, maximal HR, and a 5-km track race to determine RP. Participants performed 2 individualized sessions with either HR- or RP-based prescriptions: a 45-minute LICT and a 5 × 800-m HIIT with 90-second rest. Results : The HR-based training prescription yielded greater TEA (85% [23%] of session time, P = .002) than RP-based method (69% [21%]) during LICT. Similarly, for the HIIT, TEA was higher through HR- (41% [19%], P < .001) than RP-based prescription (27% [14%]). Conclusion : The HR-based approach led to significantly greater time spent within the prescribed intensity zones than the RP-based approach during both LICT and HIIT sessions in endurance runners. TEA during HIIT was low for both prescription methods, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining target intensity at high intensities.

Purpose : Although caffeine-induced increases in fat oxidation are well established under laboratory conditions, evidence during field-based exercise is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the acute effects of 3 mg·kg ⁻¹ of caffeine on fat oxidation during a 1-hour field-based outdoor run performed at the individual intensity eliciting maximal fat oxidation (Fatmax). Methods : Fourteen healthy, endurance-trained runners (11 men, 3 women; = 58.6 [6.3] mL·kg ⁻¹ ·min ⁻¹ ) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover experiment. Participants completed 1 preexperimental trial to determine and Fatmax, followed by 2 experimental trials. During the experimental trials, participants ingested either caffeine (3 mg·kg ⁻¹ ) or a placebo 60 minutes before a 1-hour run at their individual Fatmax intensity covered on a 1.97-km outdoor running course. Substrate oxidation rates and energy expenditure were measured via indirect calorimetry using a portable gas analyzer and calculated through stoichiometric equations while heart rate was continuously monitored and ratings of perceived exertion were recorded using the Borg scale. Results : Caffeine significantly increased total fat oxidation during the 1-hour run (33.62 [9.23] vs 40.46 [11.32] g; P = .018; d = 0.76) and decreased carbohydrate oxidation (93.16 [37.84] vs 77.32 [30.35] g; P = .036; d = 0.66) compared with placebo, with no effect on total energy expenditure ( P = .936). Caffeine also reduced the rating of perceived exertion (9 [2] vs 8 [2]; P = .024; d = 0.75) with no effect on heart rate ( P = .140). Conclusion : Acute ingestion of 3 mg·kg ⁻¹ of caffeine enhances fat oxidation during 1 hour of running at Fatmax under field-based conditions, suggesting that caffeine may be an effective nutritional strategy to optimize fat utilization during real-world submaximal endurance exercise.