Alexios Batrakoulis

Alexios Batrakoulis
Democritus University of Thrace | DUTH · Department of Physical Education and Sport

PhD, CSCS, ACSM-EP, FACSM

About

100
Publications
60,946
Reads
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1,295
Citations
Introduction
Dr. Batrakoulis holds a BS in Sport Science, an MS in Exercise and Health, and a PhD in Clinical Exercise Physiology. He works as an Adjunct Professor, global fitness educator, and is the Founder of the International Obesity Exercise Training Institute. He serves as a Member on several Committees for ACSM and NSCA. He is an ACSM Fellow and was named as the Personal Trainer of the Year (2018 IDEA, 2020 NSCA, and 2021 PFP), 2019 IDEA China Fitness Innovator and 2022 ACSM Certified Pro of the Year.
Additional affiliations
March 2021 - present
University of Thessaly
Position
  • Adjunct Professor
Description
  • Teaching courses on exercise physiology, strength and conditioning, exercise for health, group fitness, and personal training.
September 2017 - present
International Obesity Exercise Training Institute
Position
  • Founder
Description
  • Delivering live courses on exercise and obesity for exercise professionals in 45 countries across five continents.
September 2016 - July 2023
American Council on Exercise
Position
  • Master's Student
Description
  • Delivering live courses on health and fitness coaching, sports conditioning, youth fitness, small group training, and personal training.
Education
February 2018 - December 2021
University of Thessaly
Field of study
  • Exercise Physiology
September 2014 - September 2016
University of Thessaly
Field of study
  • Exercise and Health
September 1993 - September 1997
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Field of study
  • Physical Education and Sport Science

Publications

Publications (100)
Article
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The purpose of this study is to analyse the profile and characteristics of those amateur runners, who participate in marathon running events, and to analyze the factors related to their perception about their running activity. In this paper data from a total of 323 runners were analysed (83% males and 17% females). An online questionnaire was used...
Article
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Background Overweight and obesity pose significant public health challenges for children and adolescents worldwide, with escalating prevalence rates in Pakistan, leading to long-term health consequences. Proximal environments, including parental, peer, school, and community influences, are pivotal in shaping children’s health behaviors during devel...
Article
Objective To evaluate the effects of resistance training on cardiometabolic health-related outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and overweight/obesity. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Data sources PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Google Sch...
Article
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This study examines the relationship between parental support and involvement in sports and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Pakistani children and adolescents aged 9-17 years. Using a cross-sectional design, the study used a multistage random cluster sample from 62 schools with 4,200 students. Data from 4,108 participants (97.8%) wer...
Article
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The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a structured coordinative exercise intervention based on motor skill elements on physical fitness (PF), motor competence (MC) and inhibitory control (IC) in preschool children. A total of 41 kindergarten children (27 boys and 17 girls) aged between 5 and 6 years participated and were divided into...
Article
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Background. Hypertension, a major contributor to heart disease, is linked to severe complications such as heart attacks, strokes, myocardial infarctions, and chronic kidney disease. Various types of exercise present a promising strategy for lowering BP in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular di...
Article
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The annual ACSM's health and fitnes report aims to: i) identify predictions for the top 20 fitness trends in the United States and across the globe for 2025; ii) utilize data informed decision making to promote physical activity in the commercial, clinical, corporate, and community fitness sectors and iii) evaluate trend themes across regions to su...
Article
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Background: Overweight and obesity in children and adolescents are pressing global public health concerns, including in Pakistan, where prevalence rates are rising. The long-term health implications of these conditions underscore the need for targeted interventions during childhood and adolescence and periods when health behaviors are strongly infl...
Article
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Citation: Tanveer, M.; Asghar, E.; Badicu, G.; Tanveer, U.; Roy, N.; Zeba, A.; Badri Al-Mhanna, S.; Batrakoulis, A. Associations of School-Level Factors and School Sport Facility Parameters with Overweight and Obesity among Children and Adolescents in Pakistan: An Empirical Cross-Sectional Study. Sports 2024, 12, 235. https://doi. Abstract: Childho...
Article
Poulios, A, Fotiou, C, Draganidis, D, Avloniti, A, Rosvoglou, A, Batrakoulis, A, Tsimeas, P, Papanikolaou, K, Deli, CK, Stampoulis, T, Douroudos, II, Chatzinikolaou, A, Jamurtas, AZ, and Fatouros, IG. The energy expenditure associated with body-weight resistance exercises of various movement patterns performed at different durations. J Strength Con...
Article
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The health and fitness (H&F) sector is rapidly evolving and appears to be a vibrant space for industry stakeholders with a great potential globally. This observational study aimed to identify the most popular trends related to H&F services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the first time, focused on the industry status after the coronavirus (CO...
Article
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Individuals with chronic heart faillure (CHF) have low exercise capacity, demonstrating fatigue and dyspnea when engaging in physical activity or structured exercise training. This is common due to impaired vasodilation capacity and various side effects of medications, resulting in reduced inotropic and chronotropic responses to exercise. Thus, peo...
Article
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Purpose This study aimed to assess the association between nutrition behavior, food intake, being overweight, and obesity among school-aged children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 years. Additionally, it sought to examine how these factors influence being overweight and obese within this population. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study w...
Article
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Background Structured aerobic or resistance training alone seems to be a beneficial tool for improving glucose homeostasis, chronic systemic inflammation, resting cardiovascular function, and mental health in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the present study was to synthesize the available data on the effectivene...
Article
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Background There is strong evidence showing the association between obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and knee pain resulting from osteoarthritis. Regular exercise has been reported as a foundational piece of the preventive therapy puzzle for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. Nonetheless, evidence-based exercise protocols for people with...
Article
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Breast cancer survivors with obesity are at a high risk of cancer recurrence, comorbidity, and mortality. This review aims to systematically evaluate the effects of combined aerobic and resistance training (CART) on body composition, lipid homeosta-sis, inflammation, adipokines, cancer-related fatigue, sleep, and quality of life in breast cancer pa...
Article
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This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference between the levels of imagery and mental toughness in the context of sports performance in male and female athletes. A total of 344 track and field athletes, 205 male (59.6%, 23.3 ± 4.0 years) and 139 female (40.4%, 22.9 ± 4.0 years), voluntarily participated in the study. Imagery Inventor...
Book
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Exercise Oncology Instructor: Principles & Practice provides critical content information and practical application that will prepare individuals to design and conduct safe and effective exercise intervention programs for cancer patients. Exercise professionals will develop comprehensive knowledge and skills regarding the components of cancer, canc...
Article
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Introduction Many COVID-19 patients display adverse symptoms, such as reduced physical ability, poor quality of life, and impaired pulmonary function. Therefore, this systematic review is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of physical exercise on various psychophysiological indicators among COVID-19 patients who may be at any stage of their illn...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Childhood overweight and obesity pose significant global public health challenges, with Pakistan witnessing a rising prevalence and consequent adverse health impacts. External factors including parental, peer, school, and community influences shape children's health behaviors during their developmental years. Purpose: This study aimed t...
Article
Full-text available
The association between mental and physical fitness is critical for young people participating in physical education and sports activities. However, current evidence shows that elementary schools need a mental training learning model and a course of play strategies for volleyball material. Therefore, it is necessary to design a particular model of...
Article
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Background Due to the worldwide reach of the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities across the globe deemed it essential to enforce exceptional containment measures. Maintaining physical activity (PA) during this time was only feasible through engaging in activities at home. Therefore, this study focused on elucidating the levels of PA and well-being among...
Article
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Background: Obesity is considered a major global public health issue. Interestingly, physical exercise has a vital role in preventing, managing, and treating obesity. However, bariatric surgery has been reported as an effective treatment option. Objectives: The present trial aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a 6-month, real-world, multi-com...
Article
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Combined aerobic and resistance training is highly recommended for adults with SO. Aerobic training induces profound effects on body fat and mass loss and cardiorespiratory fitness. Resistance training leads to gains in lean body mass and musculoskeletal fitness. Such positive adaptations are critical for older adults with SO who commonly experienc...
Article
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Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity present substantial challenges to global public health, marked by their widespread prevalence and associated morbidities. The ensuing complications, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome, cancer, liver disease, and neurodegeneration, underscore the urgent need for effectiv...
Article
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Background: The health and fitness industry is evolving and appears to be a dynamic space for all involved stakeholders with great potential worldwide. Objectives: The purpose of this observational study was to identify the most popular health and fitness trends in Turkey for the first time after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to detect an...
Article
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Background. The summer is a time for various sporting events, many of which take place in hot and humid environments. Heat exposure can have a significant impact on athletic performance and can even be fatal. Heat acclimatization (HA) is the process of gradually exposing the body to hot environments to improve its ability to regulate temperature an...
Article
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Background. Sedentary lifestyles and insufficient physical activity contribute significantly to the rising global epidemic of obesity, fostering an environment where excess calories are stored as adipose tissue. Lack of regular physical activity and diminished cardiorespiratory fitness are key factors in the emergence of obesity-related illnesses,...
Article
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Apply It! This article will inform and help readers to: • Identify predictions for the top 20 fitness trends in the United States and across the globe for 2024. • Use data to inform health and fitness business decisions and professional development. • Recognize trend themes and region-specific needs to support consumer health and fitness.
Article
Full-text available
Background. The health and fitness industry is evolving and appears to be a dynamic space for all involved stakeholders with great potential worldwide. Objectives. The purpose of this observational study was to identify the most popular health and fitness trends in Turkey for the first time after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to detect an...
Article
Full-text available
Background Lifestyle modifications involving diet and exercise are recommended for patients diagnosed with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The purpose of this review was to systematically evaluate the effects of combined aerobic exercise and diet (AEDT) on various cardiometabolic health-related indicators among individuals with obesity...
Article
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Nonpharmacological management of individuals with fibromyalgia should focus on exercise/physical activity and education. A holistic approach with exercise should be adopted. This includes more traditional exercise modes such as aerobic exercise, resistance training, and stretching. In addition, activites such as yoga, tai chi, and aquatic activitie...
Article
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The health and fitness sector is evolving and appears to be an important field not only for consumers but also for gym operators/managers, exercise professionals, training providers and educators with great potential worldwide. Our aim of this cross-sectional survey was to investigate the most attractive health and fitness trends in Iran for the fi...
Conference Paper
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INTRODUCTION: The increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity is a serious public health challenge negatively affecting more than one in two adults globally. Physical exercise is an essential component of an all-inclusive strategy for preventing, managing and treating obesity. In particular, a hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training programme...
Article
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Chronic fatigue syndrome is considered a complex, debilitating, long-term medical condition. Individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome are very likely to suffer from muscle or joint pain. Regular exercise can play a vital role in health promotion and quality of life enhancement in those with chronic fatigue syndrome who have been medically cleared...
Article
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Physical activity (PA) and emotional intelligence (EI) are integral parts of human nature. Body image (BI) and body mass index (BMI) may be indications of the psycho-emotional and physical health of human beings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between PA and EI of Greek adults living with overweight and obesity, as we...
Article
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The physical activity, exercise and wellness sector is rapidly growing and seems to be an exciting field for business and professional development with great potential globally. The purpose of this observational and cross-sectional study was to determine the most popular health and fitness trends in Southern Europe for the first time, including dat...
Article
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Apply It! From this article, the reader should be able to: • Identify top 20 fitness trends for Australia, Brazil, Europe, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. • Recognize individual and unique fitness trends represented within the seven aforementioned regions. • Identify top five trends for each region during the last 3 years.
Article
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Various mind-body fitness modalities such as Pilates, yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong have become an accepted part of the physical activity, exercise, and leisure sector, serving several populations eligible for meditative movement activities. However, no robust evidence is present in the current literature supporting the efficacy of these meditative mov...
Article
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This study investigated whether Greek Orthodox Christian fasting during Holy Week can change body composition and cardiometabolic parameters in overweight individuals, and whether these changes are maintained one week after fasting cessation (FC). Body composition and physiological and biochemical parameters were measured before, immediately after...
Article
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Exercise is an effective tool for managing and treating type II diabetes and may be a useful component of a diabetes management program. Both short- or long-term exercise interventions can improve physical fitness, metabolic health, and cardiovascular function in individuals with poor glycemic control. Incorporating aerobic and resistance exercise...
Article
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Physical activity has been documented as a foundational approach for weight management and obesity, improving several cardiometabolic and mental health indices. However, it is not clear whether yoga practice can induce beneficial improvements in anthropometric and body composition parameters, performance, metabolic health, and well-being among over...
Article
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A global study is being carried out by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to determine trends in the health and fitness industry since 2007. The aim of the present study was to identify the most important health and fitness trends in Greece for the second time and to examine any potential changes in this field compared to 2021 nationwid...
Article
Full-text available
The prevalence of overweightness and obesity has been documented as a major public health issue since it has increased at an alarming rate worldwide. Structured physical exercise programs have been reported as an essential strategy for preventing, managing, and treating obesity, inducing critical improvements in various physiological and psychologi...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION: The rising prevalence of overweight and obesity is a major public health challenge negatively affecting more than one in two adults worldwide. Regular exercise is a fundamental component of a comprehensive strategy for preventing, managing and treating obesity. Particularly, a hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training programme (D...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: This study evaluated how extended match time (90 + 30 min) affected physiological responses and fatigue in male soccer players. Methods: Twenty competitive players (age 21 ± 2 [±SD] years; VO2max 59 ± 4 ml/min/kg) completed an experimental match with their activity pattern and HR assessed throughout the game, while countermovement jump...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
PURPOSE: The rising prevalence of overweight and obesity is considered a major public health issue negatively affecting more than one in two adults globally. Overweight and obese adults demonstrate lower musculoskeletal fitness levels compared to normoweight individuals resulting in reduced mobility, poor functional capacity, physical limitations,...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Although regular exercise is recommended for preventing and treating overweight/obesity, the most effective exercise type for improving cardiometabolic health in individuals with overweight/obesity remains largely undecided. This network meta-analysis aimed to evaluate and rank the comparative efficacy of 5 exercise modalities on cardio...
Article
Full-text available
Regular exercise has been reported as a fundamental piece of the management and treatment puzzle of obesity, playing a vital role in numerous psychological indicators. However, it is unclear whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can improve critical psychological health markers such as adherence, exercise enjoyment, affective responses, h...
Article
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This study examined the dose-response effects of a 1-year hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training programme (DoIT) on various musculoskeletal fitness parameters in inactive overweight and obese adults in a gym setting. Ninety-seven middle-aged (44.8±5.2 years) individuals with overweight/obesity (31.2±5.7 kg/m²) (66% female) were randomly ass...
Article
Full-text available
From this article, the reader should be able to • Identify top 20 fitness trends for Australia, Brazil, China, Europe, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. • Recognize individual and unique fitness trends represented within Australia, Brazil, China, Europe, Mexico, Spain, and the United States.
Chapter
Full-text available
After completing this chapter, you will be able to i) comprehend the fundamental techniques for performing and instructing proper form for resistance training exercises, ii) describe proper spotting techniques as well as situations in which they are needed, iii) define appropriate training equipment and apparel, and iv) recognize common resistance...
Article
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Aging is associated with the development of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation (LGSI) characterized by increased circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines and acute phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP). Collective evidence suggests that elevated levels of inflammatory mediators such as CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necr...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Introduction: Overweight and obesity are systematically growing at an alarming rate globally. Regular exercise is considered as a critical piece of the obesity management puzzle. However, the most effective exercise type to improve glucose control, lipid metabolism, and blood pressure in this population remains unknown. Purpose: Thus, the present n...
Article
Full-text available
Atrial fibrillation is considered one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias globally, particularly in the elderly. Individuals with atrial fibrillation are very likely to take a number of medications while suffering from other chronic diseases such as hypertension. Regular exercise can play a vital role in health promotion and quality of life enha...
Article
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This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of a 5-month high-intensity hybrid type neuromuscular training program with nontraditional implements on cardiometabolic health, redox status, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in inactive overweight and obese women. Forty-nine inactive female participants with overweight and obesity (ag...
Article
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HIIT is an effective exercise mode inducing meaningful benefits on physical fitness, metabolic health, and cardiovascular function. This training approach requires adults with metabolic diseases to engage in physically and mentally demanding conditions with respect to the exercise intensity commonly used in other modalities. However, emerging resea...
Article
Full-text available
PURPOSE: Overweight and obesity are considered a major global public health issue. Although regular physical activity is recommended to overweight and obese adults for weight management, however, the most effective exercise type to improve body composition in this population remains unknown. Thus, the present network meta-analysis (NMA) was conduct...
Chapter
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Personal Trainers should be able to i) describe the physiological and psychological benefits of a comprehensive exercise program, ii) describe the components of a comprehensive exercise program, iii) consider advanced training options, and iv) understand the anatomy of an exercise session.
Conference Paper
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Overweight and obesity are a rapidly growing public health problem affecting 2 in 3 adults worldwide. Despite the fact that regular exercise is recommended to overweight and obese adults for improving health and performance, however, the most effective exercise type to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and central adiposity in t...
Article
Full-text available
The health and fitness sector is systematically growing worldwide and is considered a vibrant business area shaped by many innovations while showing great potential for professional development and marketing strategies. In Greece, low-cost and budgetgyms as well as boutique fitness studios emerged as a popular business model among health club opera...
Article
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The present study examined skeletal muscle metabolism and changes in repeated sprint performance during match play for n = 20 competitive elite women outfield players. We obtained musculus vastus lateralis biopsies and blood samples before, after, and following intense periods in each half of a friendly match, along with 5 × 30‐meter sprint tests a...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
PURPOSE: Overweight and obesity are considered a major global public health issue. Although regular physical activity is recommended to overweight and obese adults for weight management, however, the most effective exercise type to improve body composition in this population remains unknown. Thus, the present network meta-analysis (NMA) was conduct...
Chapter
Full-text available
The Greek fitness industry is full of potentials both for existing companies and for those which wish to open in the near future. Gym member penetration rates in Greece are below the average of the EU markets, signifying this potential for growth. Considering that a large percentage of “exercisers” are low-motivated. Increasing their motivation is...
Article
Full-text available
Background Soccer-specific speed-endurance training induces short-term neuromuscular fatigue and performance deterioration over a 72-h recovery period, associated with elevated markers of exercise-induced muscle damage. We compared the effects of whey vs. soy protein supplementation on field activity, performance, muscle damage and redox responses...
Article
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International awareness of the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM's) Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends has exponentially increased since its inception 15 years ago. Practitioners across the world recognize the value in assessing health and fitness trends annually as one approach to guide future programming efforts. For this reason, severa...