The effect and safety of high-intensity interval training in the treatment of adolescent obesity: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: It’s necessary to conduct meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate the effect and safety of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on obese adolescents, to provide a basis for the management of obesity in adolescents. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the role of HIIT in the obese adolescents were searched from PubMed databases and so on up to Jan 15, 2021. Two researchers independently performed literature screening, literature quality evaluation and data extraction according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Revman 5.3 Software and Stata 12.2 Software were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 11 RCTs with 488 obese adolescents were included. Meta-analysis indicated that HIIT can effectively reduce the body weight (MD =−1.73 kg, 95% CI: −3.25 to −0.21, P=0.02), BMI (MD =−1.42 kg/m2, 95% CI: −1.97 to −0.87, P<0.001), body fat percentage (MD =−1.70%, 95% CI: −2.94 to −0.45, P=0.007) and waist circumference (MD =−1.80 cm, 95% CI: −3.5 to −0.10, P=0.04). The “high-intensity short-interval” HIIT program can significantly reduce waist circumference (MD =−2.31 cm, 95% CI: −4.20 to −0.42, P=0.022), the “high-intensity long-interval” HIIT program is more beneficial to reduce the BMI (MD =−1.44 kg/m2, 95% CI: −2.03 to −0.84, P=0.001) and body fat percentage (MD =−0.56, 95% CI: −1.08 to −0.05, P=0.009). Conclusions: HIIT can effectively improve the body composition of obese adolescents and produce an effective fat-reducing effect, which should be promoted for the clinical treatment of adolescent obesity.