Abstract
BackgroundHigh intensity interval training (HIIT) has been reported to exert better effects on cardiovascular fitness in obesity, but little known about the arterial stiffness (AS) in female university students with normal weight obesity (NWO). Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of HIIT on the body composition, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), blood lipids metabolism as well as the novel parameters of propensity for AS (arterial velocity pulse index [AVI], arterial pressure volume index [API]) for female university students with NWO.MethodsForty female university students with NWO were randomly assigned to control group (n = 20) and HIIT group (3 bouts of 9‑min intervals at 90% of the maximal heart rate [HRmax], interspersed by 1 min rest, 5 days a week, n = 20). Tests were performed before and after 4 weeks of training. Repeated measures ANOVA and simple effect test analysis were used to analyze dependent variable changes.ResultsAfter 4 weeks HIIT statistically significantly improved the body composition by decreasing the body mass index, body fat percent, total body fat mass (BFM), BFM of left arm, measured circumference of left arm, and obesity degree, and increasing the total body skeletal muscle mass, protein content, total body water, fat free mass, body cell mas, and InBody score. HIIT also statistically significantly decreased the HR and BP. As for the lipid profile, HIIT obviously ameliorated the blood lipids metabolism by decreasing the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and TC/HDL, and increasing the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). In addition, the AVI and API were markedly decreased via HIIT intervention.ConclusionsHIIT produced significant and meaningful benefits for body composition, HR, BP, and blood lipids metabolism, and could decrease AS in female university students with NWO. This suggests that HIIT may effectively reduce the risk of arteriosclerosis and protect the cardiovascular function for female university students with NWO.Trial registration ChiCTR2100050711. Registered 3 September 2021. Retrospectively registered.
Highlights
High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been reported to exert better effects on cardiovascular fitness in obesity, but little known about the arterial stiffness (AS) in female university students with normal weight obesity (NWO)
There was no significant difference in heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between the two groups pre-HIIT intervention
Previous evidence has shown that higher body mass index (BMI), blood pres‐ sure (BP), TG levels, and lowdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL) levels may cause persistent endothelial damage and lead to endothelial dysfunction and increases in AS, which are considered the first steps in the progression of atherosclerosis [30]
Summary
High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been reported to exert better effects on cardiovascular fitness in obesity, but little known about the arterial stiffness (AS) in female university students with normal weight obesity (NWO). This study aimed to investigate the effects of HIIT on the body composition, heart rate (HR), blood pres‐ sure (BP), blood lipids metabolism as well as the novel parameters of propensity for AS (arterial velocity pulse index [AVI], arterial pressure volume index [API]) for female university students with NWO. It has previously been shown that the incidence of Chinese NWO was high among university students, especially in females, which might be related to estrogen [2]. Additional studies have reported that Chinese university students with NWO have lower skeletal muscle mass and levels of physical fitness and higher cardiometabolic risk, especially in females [6, 7]. Female university students with NWO should be given enough attention to enhance their physical and mental health
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