# High-Intensity Interval Training for Overweight Adolescents: Program Acceptance of a Media Supported Intervention and Changes in Body Composition

PMID: 27834812
Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Published: 2016-11-08
Authors: Herget S, Reichardt S, Grimm A, Petroff D, Käpplinger J, Haase M, Markert J, Blüher S

## Question

Does media support improve attendance and acceptance for a 6-month HIIT program in overweight adolescents, and are body composition markers changed?

## Summary

This small feasibility trial tested whether text/email/website support improved attendance for an outdoor HIIT program in overweight adolescents. Media support did not significantly improve attendance, overall attendance fell during school vacation, and body-fat and waist-to-height ratio improved modestly across participants.

## Population

- Overweight adolescents in Leipzig, Germany.
- Sample size: 28
- Age: 13-18 years; mean 15.5 +/- 1.4
- Sex: 54% female
- Fitness level: Not reported
- Health status: BMI above German 90th percentile.

## Methodology

- Randomized controlled feasibility trial with both groups receiving HIIT and one group receiving media support.
- 6 months
- Outdoor/park and open-space adolescent physical activity program in Leipzig, Germany.
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Media-supported moveHIT.
- Modality: Outdoor HIIT with running, Tabata, sprinting, and low-volume strength exercises.
- Work intervals: Examples: 20 s Tabata or 60 s sprint.
- Recovery: Examples: 10 s active recovery or 75 s rest/active recovery.
- Sets or repetitions: Examples: Tabata rounds; 8-10 cycles in Gibala-style sessions.
- Intensity: 80-95% HRmax during work intervals.
- Session duration: 60 min.
- Frequency: 2 sessions/week.
- Program length: 6 months.
- Progression: Varied activities and protocols; participants chose from three weekday afternoon sessions.
- HIIT without media support.
- Modality: Same supervised outdoor HIIT sessions.
- Work intervals: Same as intervention.
- Recovery: Same as intervention.
- Sets or repetitions: Same as intervention.
- Intensity: 80-95% HRmax during work intervals.
- Session duration: 60 min.
- Frequency: 2 sessions/week.
- Program length: 6 months.
- Progression: Same exercise program without text/email/website support.

## Outcomes

### Attendance
Status: no clear change
Media support increased mean attendance numerically but not significantly.

Control 13.6 +/- 10.7 sessions vs media 19.5 +/- 12.1; p=0.19; Wilcoxon p=0.165.

### Attendance over time
Status: worse/safety concern
Attendance was 65-75% early and fell to about 15% in the last 3 months, coinciding with summer vacation.

Survival log-rank p=0.48 between groups.

### Program acceptance
Status: improved
Participants rated the program favorably, but ratings did not correlate with attendance.

Overall rating 2.33 +/- 1.37; attendance/evaluation r=0.02 p=0.942.

### Body composition
Status: mixed
Waist-to-height ratio and estimated body fat decreased, while BMI-SDS did not significantly change.

WHtR -0.013 p=0.023; body fat -2.0 percentage points p=0.011; BMI-SDS change p=0.49.

## Practical Insights

- Adolescent HIIT adherence can collapse when school routines change.
- Digital reminders may help some users but should not be treated as sufficient adherence support.
- Favorable ratings do not guarantee attendance.

## Limitations

- Small underpowered feasibility sample
- Both groups shared same exercise sessions
- Summer vacation disrupted attendance
- No non-exercise control
- Self-report/questionnaire completeness issues

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse events or injuries were reported in the extracted text.
- Serious orthopedic impairment and pregnancy were exclusion criteria.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27834812/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13111099) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5129309/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.