The Effectiveness of Six Weeks of HIIT and HIFT Training on Physiological Variables and Functional Capacity of Untrained, Obese and Overweight Adolescents

Mahmood Darvishi; Vahid Valipour Dehnou; Rasoul Eslami

doi:10.18502/ijdl.v26i1.21334

Mahmood Darvishi Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
Vahid Valipour Dehnou Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
Rasoul Eslami Department of Exercise Physiology, Physical Education and Sport Sciences Faculty, Allame Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijdl.v26i1.21334

Keywords: Leptin, Omentin, Obese adolescents, HIIT, HIFT

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is linked to adult obesity and chronic diseases. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of High-intensity functional training (HIFT) and High-intensity interval training (HIIT) on physiological variables and functional capacity in overweight and obese, untrained adolescents.

Methods: Thirty overweight and obese adolescents were randomly assigned to three equal groups: control [14.30 ± 0.82 years, body mass index (BMI)= 30.23 ± 2.11], HIIT (14.10 ± 0.87 years, BMI= 29.17 ± 2.51), and HIFT (13.40 ± 0.82 years, BMI= 29.42 ± 2.56). Participants in the experimental groups followed an HIIT and HIFT training protocol for six weeks. Before and after the intervention, anthropometric indices and serum levels of leptin and omentin were measured. Data were analyzed using mixed ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc tests.

Results: HIFT significantly reduced body weight and BMI compared to the control group (P< 0.05), while HIIT showed no significant effect (P> 0.05). Serum leptin levels were significantly lower in both experimental groups compared to the control group (P< 0.01). Notably, only HIFT significantly increased omentin levels compared to the control group (P< 0.001). No significant effect was observed on the waist-to-hip ratio (P> 0.05).

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that both HIFT and HIIT can lead to improvements in anthropometric indices and serum levels of omentin and leptin in overweight and obese adolescents. However, HIFT appears to be a more effective intervention.