PMID 39358484

Research
All papers

High-intensity interval training vs. yoga in improving binge eating and physical fitness in inactive young females

Li HM, Liu CJ, Shen YH, Zhao L, Yin CQ, Yu JG, Mao SS

Question

Does HIIT improve binge eating and physical fitness compared with yoga or usual activity in inactive young females?

Summary

In inactive young women with mild to moderate binge eating, 8 weeks of supervised treadmill HIIT improved VO2max and some body composition measures but did not improve binge-eating scores. Yoga improved binge-eating scores and VO2max.

Methodology

  • Forty-seven inactive female university students with mild to moderate binge-eating symptoms.
  • 47 participants.
  • Treadmill running.
  • Work intervals: 3 min.
  • Recovery: 2 min active recovery.
  • Intensity: 90% VO2max during work, 50% VO2max during recovery.
  • About 30 min including warm-up and cool-down.
  • 3 sessions/week.
  • 8 weeks.
  • Randomized controlled trial with HIIT, yoga, and usual-activity control arms
  • Binge eating, VO2max, and Body composition were tracked.

Outcomes

Binge eating

HIIT did not improve binge-eating scores, whereas yoga did.

HIIT BES 22.13 to 22.40, p=0.797; yoga 23.75 to 18.94, p=0.006; yoga lower than HIIT at post-test p=0.020

No clear change

VO2max

HIIT and yoga both improved VO2max compared with control, with no significant difference between HIIT and yoga.

HIIT 34.87 to 39.07, p<0.001; yoga 34.75 to 38.75, p<0.001; HIIT vs control p=0.006, yoga vs control p=0.009; HIIT vs yoga p=0.836

Improved

Body composition

HIIT reduced body weight, BMI, and fat mass within group; yoga reduced fat mass only within group.

HIIT body weight p=0.006, BMI p=0.006, fat mass p=0.033; yoga fat mass p=0.033

Mixed

Insights

  • Fitness gains from HIIT did not translate into binge-eating improvement in this sample.
  • Mental-health or eating-behavior goals may require modalities or supports beyond improving aerobic fitness.
  • A supervised 4 x 3 min treadmill HIIT format was effective for VO2max in inactive young women.

Limitations

  • Small young female university sample.
  • Only 8 weeks of intervention.
  • Diet was not controlled.
  • Mood and other psychological mechanisms were not assessed.
  • Adherence and adverse events were not clearly reported.

Safety

  • Adverse events were not reported.
  • Participants with acute or chronic diseases and inability to complete the study were excluded.