The COVID pandemic has served as a reminder of the importance of physical health and fitness. In China, the pandemic has brought on a fitness drive to boost overall health and immunity. Reporter Lu Sirui speaks to experts about the science of this.

Going to gym may not be as popular in China as it is in other countries. But that has slowly been changing over the past years, partly thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many new gym goers hope to boost their immunity from COVID-19.

"I have come to exercise for five months, and I have achieved good results. Since the pandemic, I have reminded myself of the importance of improving my physical strength. I think I will keep up this habit from now on."

ZHANG XIANKAI Manager, Reborn Fitness Studio "In fact, more parents are sending their children here for physical exercises. They want their children to lay a good foundation of their physical health."

Also, having to stay at home due to COVID restrictions, many people have been turning to indoor aerobic activities.

Over the past few weeks, millions of Chinese have been doing aerobics through a method created by a singer Liu Genghong from Taiwan, who uses the Jay Chou's song 'Compendium of Materia Medica'.

It's proving to be very popular, with the number of users continuing to rise.

It highlights the growing appetite for fitness in Chinese society.

But experts say much remains to be studied over the exact connection between physical exercises and the ability to deal with infection.

So far, positive correlations are mainly observed in animal experiments.

What we have known is that over-exercise could induce too much stress hormones, which then suppress the function of the immune system.

QI HAI Professor of Immunology, School of Medicine Tsinghua University "Scientists who studied immunology, nutrition and lifestyle would have to work together to better define a set of parameters the general public can use to gauge what level of exercise they need to maintain a wellbeing. I think we are on the way there. But we're not there yet."

Experts also say they have realized that in general, women handle viral infection better than men.

QI HAI Professor of Immunology, School of Medicine Tsinghua University "In a mouse's system, where we can tear apart the mechanistic aspect, we find a particular mechanism that regulates cells making antibodies being affected by male hormone. If this (is) replicated in human, that would suggest to us ways to improve vaccine response in men."

Scientists say they hope to deepen this study and make application of it as soon as possible. Lu Sirui, CGTN, Beijing.

Editor: Guo Lili