PMID 39588343

Research
All papers

Combined high-intensity interval and resistance training improves cardiorespiratory fitness more than high-intensity interval training in young women with overweight/obesity: a randomized controlled trial

Wang Y, Yang X, Deng J, Wang Z, Yang D, Han Y, Wang H

Question

Does combining HIIT with resistance training improve body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and glycolipid metabolism more than HIIT alone in young women with overweight or obesity?

Summary

In 38 young women with overweight or obesity who completed an 8-week randomized trial, both HIIT alone and HIIT plus resistance training improved body composition and several fitness and metabolic measures. The combined HIIT plus resistance program produced larger gains in VO2peak, oxygen pulse, vital capacity, and muscle mass, while between-group differences in glucose and lipid markers were not significant.

Methodology

  • Young women aged 18 to 25 years with overweight or obesity and irregular exercise habits
  • 38 participants.
  • mixed.
  • Work intervals: 20 seconds.
  • Recovery: 10 seconds.
  • Intensity: 85% to 95% HRmax for HIIT and 70% 1RM for resistance training.
  • 50 minutes.
  • 3 sessions per week.
  • 8 weeks plus 1 adaptive training week.
  • Single-center parallel randomized controlled trial
  • Body composition, Cardiorespiratory fitness, Glycolipid metabolism, and Adherence and safety were tracked.

Outcomes

Muscle mass

Muscle mass increased more in the HIIT plus resistance group.

Effect: +2.75%; P value/detail: <0.05; Favours: intervention

Improved

VO2peak

Both groups improved VO2peak, with a larger increase in the HIIT plus resistance group.

Effect: Between-group difference +1.61 mL/kg/min; P value/detail: <0.05; Favours: intervention

Improved

Oxygen pulse

Oxygen pulse improved more with HIIT plus resistance training.

Effect: +0.51 mL/beat between groups; P value/detail: <0.05; Favours: intervention

Improved

Vital capacity

Vital capacity improved more with HIIT plus resistance training.

Effect: +334 mL between groups; P value/detail: <0.05; Favours: intervention

Improved

Glucose and lipids

Both groups improved selected glucose and lipid measures, but between-group differences were not significant.

P value/detail: >0.05 between groups; Favours: no_difference

No clear change

Insights

  • Combining Tabata-style HIIT with resistance training may improve cardiorespiratory fitness while better supporting muscle mass than HIIT alone.
  • For app programming, the study supports including resistance elements, but the trial used supervised gym equipment and young women only.
  • Equal session duration does not mean equal HIIT exposure when one arm replaces HIIT sets with resistance training.

Limitations

  • Female young-adult sample only.
  • Short 8-week intervention.
  • No long-term follow-up.
  • Diet was not strictly controlled and dietary recall may be biased.
  • Small completed sample.

Safety

  • Two randomized participants withdrew for personal reasons.
  • The article stated most participants did not experience significant adverse reactions during training.