# The effect of high intensity interval training on body composition, metabolic, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in adolescents with obesity

PMID: 41725018
Journal: Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
Published: 2026 Feb 23
Authors: Atabay Arslan G, Kasimay O, Bingul I, Gedikbasi A, Agopyan A, Kucuk Yetgin M

## Question

What are the effects of a 12-week HIIT program on body composition, metabolic hormones, insulin resistance, lipid profile, inflammation, and oxidative stress markers in adolescents with obesity?

## Summary

In adolescents with obesity, a 12-week supervised cycling HIIT program after a 3-week adaptation phase improved body composition, glucose/insulin markers, lipids, inflammatory markers, and antioxidant capacity compared with control, but the study was small and diet was not monitored.

## Population

- Adolescents aged 13-18 years with obesity.
- Sample size: 32
- Age: 15.28 +/- 2.93 years
- Sex: 19 female and 13 male
- Health status: Obesity by BMI percentile; medically screened before HIIT

## Methodology

- Randomized controlled pre-post exercise intervention
- 3-week adaptation phase followed by 12 weeks of HIIT
- Private sports center with medical screening and supervised cycling sessions
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Progressive adolescent cycling HIIT.
- Modality: Cycling/pedaling.
- Work intervals: 30 s at 90-95% HRR.
- Recovery: 60 s active rest at 40-60% HRR.
- Sets or repetitions: 3 to 5 repetitions.
- Intensity: HRR-prescribed, monitored by Polar device.
- Session duration: 12-16 min including warm-up and cooldown.
- Frequency: 3 sessions/week.
- Program length: 12 weeks after 3-week adaptation.
- Progression: Repetitions increased every 4 weeks from 3 to 5.
- No-exercise control.
- Program length: 12 weeks.

## Outcomes

### Body composition
Status: improved
BMI, waist and hip circumferences, and body fat decreased; lean and muscle mass increased.

Group-time effects reported p<0.05; waist circumference reduction about 6 cm discussed.

### Glucose/insulin
Status: improved
Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL decreased; adiponectin increased.

HOMA-IR and triglyceride group-sex-time interactions p<0.001.

### Inflammation
Status: improved
hs-CRP, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 decreased after HIIT.

Group-time interactions reported p<0.05.

### Redox markers
Status: mixed
AGEs decreased and FRAP increased, while ROS increased and TBARS was unchanged.

Pro-oxidant status group-time effect p<0.05; TBARS no significant change.

## Practical Insights

- For adolescents with obesity, use medical screening, adaptation weeks, and short supervised sessions.
- A 30 s hard / 60 s easy cycling structure can be progressed by repetitions.
- Claims should be limited by missing diet monitoring and no long-term follow-up.

## Limitations

- Dietary intake was not monitored or reported
- Small sample
- No long-term follow-up
- Pubertal status was not assessed
- Sex-specific analyses were exploratory
- Only selected inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were assessed

## Safety And Adherence

- No adverse events were reported.
- Before HIIT, participants underwent health checks, risk analyses, resting ECG, and one week of resting blood pressure monitoring.
- All HIIT sessions were supervised and heart rate was monitored with personalized HRR targets.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41725018/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-026-02110-6) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13037010/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.