Abstract
PurposeTo compare two modalities of exercise training (i.e., Endurance Training [ET] and High-Intensity Interval Training [HIT]) on health-related parameters in obese children aged between 8 and 12 years.MethodsThirty obese children were randomly allocated into either the ET or HIT group. The ET group performed a 30 to 60-minute continuous exercise at 80% of the peak heart rate (HR). The HIT group training performed 3 to 6 sets of 60-s sprint at 100% of the peak velocity interspersed by a 3-min active recovery period at 50% of the exercise velocity. HIT sessions last ∼70% less than ET sessions. At baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention, aerobic fitness, body composition and metabolic parameters were assessed.ResultsBoth the absolute (ET: 26.0%; HIT: 19.0%) and the relative VO2 peak (ET: 13.1%; HIT: 14.6%) were significantly increased in both groups after the intervention. Additionally, the total time of exercise (ET: 19.5%; HIT: 16.4%) and the peak velocity during the maximal graded cardiorespiratory test (ET: 16.9%; HIT: 13.4%) were significantly improved across interventions. Insulinemia (ET: 29.4%; HIT: 30.5%) and HOMA-index (ET: 42.8%; HIT: 37.0%) were significantly lower for both groups at POST when compared to PRE. Body mass was significantly reduced in the HIT (2.6%), but not in the ET group (1.2%). A significant reduction in BMI was observed for both groups after the intervention (ET: 3.0%; HIT: 5.0%). The responsiveness analysis revealed a very similar pattern of the most responsive variables among groups.ConclusionHIT and ET were equally effective in improving important health related parameters in obese youth.
Highlights
The incidence of juvenile obesity has dramatically increased worldwide in the last fifty years, mainly as a result of a physically inactive lifestyle and inappropriate diet habits [1,2]
A growing body of literature has supported the efficacy of highintensity interval training (HIT) in promoting health-related effects in healthy children [5,6] and adults [7,8], and individuals with metabolic syndrome [9] and congestive heart failure [10]
Nine patients withdrew from the study for personal reasons
Summary
The incidence of juvenile obesity has dramatically increased worldwide in the last fifty years, mainly as a result of a physically inactive lifestyle and inappropriate diet habits [1,2]. The low-to-moderate-intensity endurance training (ET) has been the most common type of exercise recommended to improve body composition, physical capacity and overall healthrelated parameters (e.g., blood pressure, insulin resistance, lipid profile) in healthy and obese people [3,4]. A growing body of literature has supported the efficacy of highintensity interval training (HIT) in promoting health-related effects in healthy children [5,6] and adults [7,8], and individuals with metabolic syndrome [9] and congestive heart failure [10]. Tjønna et al [9] demonstrated that a 16-week, three times a week HIT (i.e., four 4-minute bouts at 90% of maximal heart rate with a 3-minute active recovery) and ET (i.e., 47 minutes at 70% of maximal heart rate) programs were effective in lowering mean arterial blood pressure and reducing body mass and fat in metabolic syndrome patients. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and endothelial function improved more with HIT than moderate ET and was associated with reverse left ventricular
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