PURPOSE: To examine adherence to the weekly physical activity guidelines; >= 150 minutes of aerobic activities at moderate-to-vigorous intensity and >= two session of strength training (yes or no), and health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic for men living with obesity, 46 weeks after being offered an online muscle strengthening circuit program for 12 weeks. METHODS: Sixty men (age >= 19 years) living with obesity (body fat % >= 25) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 30) or the control condition (n = 30) for 12 weeks. The intervention group was offered an online CIRCUIT training, three sessions per week, while the control group received a website helping them to reach the physical activity guidelines. Adherence to the weekly physical activity guidelines was evaluated 46 weeks after enrolling in the program using a heart rate tracker (Fitbit Charge 3) and an exercise log. Health outcomes (eg, anthropometrics, body composition) were measured at baseline and after 12, 24, and 46 weeks. RESULTS: Intervention group had higher adherence to physical activity guidelines at 46 weeks (36.8%) than control group (5.3%; p = 0.02). However, no difference in health outcomes was observed between participants in the intervention group compared to the control group after 12, 24, and 46 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing adherence to exercise in men living with obesity is challenging. The proposed program increased adherence to the physical activity guidelines after about a year for men living with obesity; however, more studies are needed to understand how to improve health outcomes when following an online delivery exercise program in this population.

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