PMID 29472742

Research
All papers

Effects of high-intensity interval training on body composition, aerobic and anaerobic performance and plasma lipids in overweight/obese and normal-weight young men

Ouerghi N, Fradj MKB, Bezrati I, Khammassi M, Feki M, Kaabachi N, Bouassida A

Question

Does 8 weeks of running HIIT improve body composition, aerobic and anaerobic performance, and plasma lipids in overweight/obese and normal-weight young men?

Summary

In overweight/obese and normal-weight male adolescents/young men, 8 weeks of supervised running HIIT improved aerobic fitness, jumping, and 30 m sprint performance. Body-fat and lipid improvements were clearer in the overweight/obese group.

Methodology

  • Secondary-school young men assigned by weight status to overweight/obese or normal-weight groups
  • 18 participants.
  • Running.
  • Work intervals: 30 s.
  • Recovery: 30 s active recovery.
  • Intensity: 100-110% maximal aerobic velocity during work; 50% MAV active recovery.
  • 10 min jog, 5 min dynamic stretching, accelerations, interval work, and 10 min cool-down.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Parallel-group training study without a non-training control
  • Body composition, Aerobic fitness, Anaerobic performance, and Plasma lipids were tracked.

Outcomes

Aerobic fitness

Maximal aerobic velocity and estimated VO2max improved in both groups.

OG MAV +5.55%, p = 0.005; OG VO2max +5.27%, p = 0.006; NWG MAV +2.96%, p = 0.009; NWG VO2max +2.88%, p = 0.009

Improved

Body fat

Body mass, BMI, and body fat decreased in the overweight/obese group but not in normal-weight participants.

OG body mass -1.62%, p = 0.016; BMI p = 0.015; body fat -1.59%, p = 0.021

Improved

Performance

Jumping and 30 m sprint performance improved in both groups.

FJT, squat jump, countermovement jump, and 30 m sprint improved in both groups; 10 m sprint improved only in overweight/obese group

Improved

Lipids

Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL improved in the overweight/obese group; HDL and normal-weight lipid changes were not significant.

OG TC -11.8%, p = 0.026; TG -21.3%, p = 0.023; LDL -11.9%, p = 0.050; HDL unchanged

Mixed

Insights

  • A simple 30 s on/30 s active-recovery running format can improve fitness and performance in young men.
  • Body-composition and lipid improvements may be more evident when baseline adiposity is higher.
  • Progressing both repetitions and percent of MAV is a clear overload model.

Limitations

  • Very small final sample
  • No non-training control group
  • Dietary intake and energy expenditure were not controlled
  • Young male students only
  • One participant stopped because he had difficulty adapting to intense exercise

Safety

  • No injuries were reported among completers.
  • One participant stopped early because of difficulty adapting to intense exercise.