PMID 34367654

Research
All papers

Effectiveness of high-intensity interval training for weight loss in adults with obesity: a randomised controlled non-inferiority trial

D'Amuri A, Sanz JM, Capatti E, Di Vece F, Vaccari F, Lazzer S, Zuliani G, Dalla Nora E, Passaro A

Question

Is 12-week treadmill HIIT non-inferior to moderate-intensity continuous training for weight loss in adults with obesity?

Summary

In healthy adults with obesity, 12 weeks of supervised treadmill HIIT plus a hypocaloric diet produced weight loss and body-composition changes similar to moderate continuous treadmill training. HIIT sessions were shorter and improved VO2peak more, while dropout rate and adverse-event reporting were similar.

Methodology

  • Healthy inactive adults with obesity
  • 32 participants.
  • Treadmill.
  • Work intervals: 3 min at 100% VO2peak.
  • Recovery: 1.5 min at 50% VO2peak.
  • Intensity: 100% VO2peak work, 50% VO2peak recovery.
  • Median 35.0 min including warm-up/cool-down.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 12 weeks.
  • Randomized single-blind single-center parallel-group non-inferiority trial
  • Body weight, Body composition, VO2peak, and Cardiometabolic markers were tracked.

Outcomes

Weight

Both groups lost similar weight.

Unclear

VO2peak

HIIT increased VO2peak more than MICT.

Improved

Session time

HIIT sessions were shorter.

Unclear

Glucose and insulin

Triglycerides, plasma glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR did not change significantly.

No clear change

Safety

No adverse events occurred in either group.

Unclear

Insights

  • In adults with obesity and minimal comorbidities, treadmill HIIT can deliver similar short-term weight loss to MICT with less session time when paired with diet.
  • Fitness improvements may be a stronger differentiator for HIIT than scale weight.
  • Claims about weight loss should note the hypocaloric diet co-intervention.

Limitations

  • Small completer sample
  • Underpowered for sex-specific and some secondary effects
  • BIA is less accurate than gold-standard body-composition methods
  • No long-term adherence assessment
  • Participants had obesity but minimal comorbidities

Safety

  • No adverse events occurred in either group.
  • Twelve randomized participants dropped out; seven for inadequate workout adherence and five withdrew consent.
  • Exercise testing was medically supervised.