SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Physiol.
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2025.1636792
Comparative Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Body Composition and Blood Pressure in Overweight Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Provisionally accepted
- Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, China
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Background and Aims: Adolescent overweight and obesity are increasing worldwide, posing a growing public health concern. Although both HIIT and MICT have been shown to reduce body fat and improve cardiovascular fitness, few studies have directly compared their effects in adolescents. This study therefore systematically evaluates their impact on body composition and blood pressure to inform appropriate exercise recommendations. Methods: An extensive database search was undertaken involving six sources—such as PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library—employing predetermined search terms to locate randomized controlled trials. The search covered literature published up to February 20, 2025, starting from each database's inception. The methodological rigor of the selected studies was evaluated through a revised evaluation approach based on PRISMA guidelines. Finally, the influence of the two exercise modalities on adiposity reduction and blood pressure in overweight/obese adolescents was analyzed and discussed. Results: An overall number of 16 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comprising 473 eligible participants, were incorporated into the analysis. The findings revealed that: (1) HIIT was superior in decreasing body fat percentage [MD = -0.74, 95% CI (-1.44, 0.04), Z = 2.74, P = 0,04]. There was no statistically relevant difference detected between the two groups in body weight, body mass index, fat-free mass, or blood pressure. (2) Subgroup analysis indicated that MICT was more effective in reducing waist circumference when running was used as the mode of exercise intervention [MD = 2.81, 95% CI (0.36, 5.26), Z = 2.25, P = 0.02]. Conclusions: Both HIIT and MICT demonstrated comparable effects on most outcomes in overweight/obese adolescents. HIIT showed a modest, borderline significant advantage in reducing body fat percentage, while MICT appeared more effective in reducing waist circumference in the running subgroup. Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings and guide exercise recommendations.
Keywords: HIIT, MICT, overweight adolescents, Body Composition, Meta-analysis
Received: 28 May 2025; Accepted: 19 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li, Zhibo, Tan, Li and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Chengbo Yang, yangchengbo@cdsu.edu.cn
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