Psycho-Physiological Responses to a 4-Month High-Intensity Interval Training-Centered Multidisciplinary Weight-Loss Intervention in Adolescents with Obesity

Khammassi M, Miguet M, Julian V, Cardenoux C, Boirie Y, Duclos M, Pereira B, Thivel D

Question

What psycho-physiological changes occur after a 4-month inpatient multidisciplinary weight-loss intervention centered on HIIT in adolescents with obesity?

Summary

In 56 adolescents with obesity in a 16-week inpatient multidisciplinary weight-loss program, body weight, BMI, and fat mass decreased while perceived health, physical quality of life, and physical self-perceptions improved. Because HIIT was embedded with strength training, other activities, nutritional education, psychological support, and an isocaloric diet, the effects cannot be attributed to HIIT alone.

Methodology

Adolescents with primary obesity in an inpatient pediatric weight-loss program.
56 participants.
Cycle HIIT plus strength training and other supervised activities.
Work intervals: 30 seconds.
Recovery: 30 seconds active recovery.
Intensity: HIIT progressed 75-90% baseline VO2peak; strength 65-85% 10RM.
HIIT 20 minutes including warm-up, followed by strength training.
HIIT plus strength 2 sessions per week; total physical exercise 4 sessions per week plus school PE.
16 weeks.
Single-arm pre/post clinical intervention.
Body composition, VO2peak, Quality of life, and Physical self-perception were tracked.

Outcomes

Body composition

Body weight, BMI, and fat mass percentage decreased.

p<0.001 for weight, BMI, and fat mass percentage.

Improved

VO2peak

VO2peak showed only a trend and did not reach statistical significance.

26.35 +/- 5.81 to 28.79 +/- 6.59; p about 0.06.

No clear change

Quality of life

Physical HR-QOL domains improved, while several mental or social domains did not.

Physical functioning p=0.002; physical limitations p=0.048; bodily pain p=0.030; general health p<0.001; PCS p<0.001.

Mixed

Self-perception

Physical self-perception improved across multiple domains.

Coordination p=0.022; endurance p=0.001; activity p<0.001; global self-concept p=0.015; appearance p=0.016; global PSP p=0.006.

Improved

Insights

For adolescents with obesity, psychological and perceived-health outcomes may be important success measures.
Do not attribute multicomponent inpatient results to HIIT alone.
A 30:30 cycling HIIT block can be part of a broader supervised program.

Limitations

No control group.
Multicomponent intervention prevents isolating HIIT effects.
Heart rate during sessions was not recorded.
No muscle-strength or broader fitness evaluation.
Normocaloric diet was not individualized.
Inpatient setting limits home and school translation.

Safety

No adverse events were reported.
Participants were medically screened and treated in an inpatient clinical setting.
Heart rate was measured during sessions but not recorded.