Preliminary efficacy and feasibility of embedding high intensity interval training into the school day: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Current physical activity and fitness levels among adolescents are low, increasing the risk of chronic disease. Although the efficacy of high intensity interval training (HIIT) for improving metabolic health is now well established, it is not known if this type of activity can be effective to improve adolescent health. The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of embedding HIIT into the school day. A 3-arm pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted in one secondary school in Newcastle, Australia. Participants (n = 65; mean age = 15.8(0.6) years) were randomized into one of three conditions: aerobic exercise program (AEP) (n = 21), resistance and aerobic exercise program (RAP) (n = 22) and control (n = 22). The 8-week intervention consisted of three HIIT sessions per week (8–10 min/session), delivered during physical education (PE) lessons or at lunchtime. Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention to detect changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (multi-stage shuttle-run), muscular fitness (push-up, standing long jump tests), body composition (Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI-z scores, waist circumference) and physical activity motivation (questionnaire), by researchers blinded to treatment allocation. Intervention effects for outcomes were examined using linear mixed models, and Cohen's d effect sizes were reported. Participants in the AEP and RAP groups had moderate intervention effects for waist circumference (p = 0.024), BMI-z (p = 0.037) and BMI (not significant) in comparison to the control group. A small intervention effect was also evident for cardiorespiratory fitness in the RAP group.

High-Intensity Interval Training for Cognitive and Mental Health in Adolescents

“…The study methods have been described in detail previously (10). Briefly, ethical approval to conduct the study was gained from the University of Newcastle Human Research Ethics Committee (H-2014-0083).…”

“…Our first study examined changes in health-related fitness outcomes associated with the two HIIT protocols (10). Briefly, a small intervention effect was evident for cardiorespiratory fitness in the RAP group; participants in the AEP and RAP groups had moderate intervention effects for waist circumference (AEP: Mean Change -1.…”

A systematic review on self‐determination theory in physical education

“…Two studies (7.1%) measured the physical activity through steps count with pedometers, two studies (7.1%) with HR monitors . The rest of the studies (42.9%, n = 10) measured the physical activities with various methods, for example, skill tests, cardiorespiratory tests, PA questionnaires, that we qualified as “others” in Table …”

“…Other studies assessed all subcategories of motivation with different questionnaires. Boiché et al used three different validated scales (ie, an adaptation of French motivation in sports scale from, an adaptation of French academic motivation scale from Vallerand et al, and the physical education motivation scale from Standage et al) to assess the multifaceted motivational regulations . The Sport Motivation Scale (SMS) and the Motivation Orientation in Sport Scale were also used by few authors .…”

High-Intensity Interval Training for Overweight Adolescents: Program Acceptance of a Media Supported Intervention and Changes in Body Composition

“…This could have been due to socially accepted answering behavior of the adolescents or due to new school obligations being imminent again, as the questionnaire on enjoyment of the program was filled out in October. A higher attendance in HIIT has been observed when incorporated into regular school curricula [12,47]. Mean attendance in a 10-week school HIIT program in the UK was 77% + 13% [48].…”