Integrating remote high-intensity interval training into multi-component obesity treatment for adolescents: Impacts on body composition, fitness, and lifestyle
Question
Does a remotely delivered HIIT program, integrated into standard multicomponent obesity treatment, improve body composition, physical fitness, and lifestyle measures in adolescents with obesity?
Summary
A 3-month remote bodyweight HIIT program added to multidisciplinary obesity care for adolescents was feasible for adherent participants and was associated with lower BMI z-score, better flexibility and trunk endurance, and higher water intake among adherers, but it did not clearly improve fat mass or skeletal muscle mass.
Methodology
- Adolescents with obesity in a Brazilian outpatient obesity clinic.
- 100 participants.
- Bodyweight aerobic/resistance circuit.
- Work intervals: 40 s.
- Recovery: 10 s.
- Intensity: High perceived exertion.
- About 20 min.
- 4 sessions/week.
- 3 months.
- Non-randomized controlled intervention with adherent, non-adherent, and control comparisons.
- BMI z-score, Body fat mass and skeletal muscle mass, Flexibility, and Core endurance were tracked.
Outcomes
BMI z-score
BMI z-score decreased, with greater reduction among adherers than non-adherers and controls.
Time beta -0.08 p=0.001; adherers vs non-adherers beta -0.30 p<0.001; adherers vs control beta -0.29 p<0.001.
Flexibility and trunk endurance
Flexibility and trunk flexion/core endurance improved after the intervention.
Flexibility beta 3.5 p<0.001; trunk flexion beta 2.9 p=0.002.
Body fat and skeletal muscle mass
No significant changes were detected for body fat mass or skeletal muscle mass.
Water intake
Water intake increased in adherent participants.
Beta 0.2 p=0.022.
Insights
- Remote HIIT for adolescents should include a gradual first week.
- Family support and home context may matter as much as protocol design for adherence.
- No-equipment bodyweight circuits can be delivered by video when cameras are available.
Limitations
- Non-randomized design with selection bias risk
- Short single-center intervention
- Intensity was subjective rather than heart-rate verified
- Internet and camera access may limit generalizability
- HIIT was embedded in broader clinical obesity care
Safety
- No injuries or physical complications were reported.
- Participants were clinically screened before enrollment.