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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Apr 24;17(8):2955.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17082955.

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Improves Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) in Healthy, Overweight and Obese Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Studies

Rhona Martin-Smith  1 , Ashley Cox  1 , Duncan S Buchan  2 , Julien S Baker  3 , Fergal Grace  4 , Nicholas Sculthorpe  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Improves Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) in Healthy, Overweight and Obese Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Studies

Rhona Martin-Smith et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is a sustainable and effective method for improving Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF) in adolescents. HIIT is proven to produce equal or greater improvements in CRF when compared to moderate intensity continuous exercise (MICE) in adolescents. Methods: The studies included were considered eligible if: (1) Participants were adolescents (11-18 years old); (2) Examined changes in CRF measured either directly or indirectly; (3) Included a non-exercising control group or MICE comparison group; (4) Participants were matched at enrolment; (5) Reported HIIT protocol information; (6) Provided HIIT intensity. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effect of HIIT on CRF. Meta-regression and moderator analyses were performed out to quantitatively examine moderators of protocol design on CRF improvements. Results: HIIT displays a moderate effect to improve CRF (g = 0.86, 95% CI 0.518-1.106, p < 0.001). Neither study duration (weeks), nor total or weekly accumulated HIIT volume (min) displayed any significant moderation effect on pooled improvement on CRF (p > 0.05). Conclusions: HIIT is an effective method to improve CRF in adolescents, irrespective of body composition. Notably, meta regression analysis identified that prolonged high volume HIIT programs are similarly effective to short term low volume HIIT programs. This becomes of particular interest for those involved in school curricula, where short HIIT exercise may provide a pragmatic adjunct to the health benefits of Physical Education (PE) lessons.

Keywords: adolescents; cardiorespiratory fitness; high intensity interval training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram to show each stage of the systematic eligibility process. Note: CRF = Cardiorespiratory Fitness.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Funnel Plot of Standard Error by Hedges’ g.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Forest plot of high intensity interval training (HIIT) versus control using random effects model.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest Plot of the Comparison of effect size of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in studies using healthy and overweight/obese participants.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Forest Plot of the Comparison of effect size of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of studies assessing CRF via direct measurement of expired gases or indirect prediction.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Forrest Plot of the Comparison of effect size of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in studies using CRF levels at baseline.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Forest Plot of control group type, individual and group analysis.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Moderator Analysis of the effects of study duration, total HIIT time, Weekly HIIT minutes (min) and Number of HIIT session per week on CRF.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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