Effect of High-intensity Interval Training on Cardiometabolic Health and Physical Fitness in Young Adults With Obesity

The objective of the present project is to compare the effects of two types of training on cardiovascular health components and physical fitness in young adults with obesity.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Obesity & Overweight
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: High-intensity interval training intervention; Other: Educational sessions; Other: Moderate-intensity continuous training intervention

Detailed Description

Obesity represents a serious public health problem, and its prevalence continues to rise worldwide. Numerous studies have documented the positive effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on cardiovascular and metabolic health in individuals living with obesity; however, the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are still being explored.

Therefore, the objective of the present research protocol is to analyze and compare the effects of an MICT program and an HIIT program on cardiometabolic biomarkers and physical fitness in young adults with obesity.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Mexico
  • Jalisco
    • Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 45650
      • Centro Universitario de Tlajomulco, Universidad de Guadalajara

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Young adults
• BMI ≥ 30 kg/m^2" and < 40 kg/m^2
• Signed informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who smoke
• Clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism
• Clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Clinical diagnosis of grade 3 obesity
• Clinical diagnosis of hypertension
• Clinical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction or angina pectoris
• Use of nitrates and calcium channel blockers within 4 days prior to the start of the study
• Use of beta-blockers or hypoglycemic agents within 7 days prior to the intervention
• Pregnant women
• Breastfeeding women
• Men consuming more than 40 g of alcohol per day or women consuming more than 20 g per day
• Postural and biomechanical disorders (knee, foot, and spine)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: HIIT Group; This group will train for 12 weeks	Other: High-intensity interval training intervention; The HIIT group will undergo training for 12 weeks, with a frequency of three sessions per week, completing a total of 36 sessions. Each session will include a 5-minute warm-up and a 5-minute cool-down at 50-60% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). The training protocol will consist of 2-minute high-intensity intervals performed at 90-95% HRmax, corresponding to a Borg rating of perceived exertion (RPE) of 17-18, alternated with 2-minute recovery periods at 70% HRmax (RPE 12-14). A total of five intervals will be completed per session, resulting in an overall high-intensity workload of 18 minutes. All training sessions will be conducted on a stationary cycle ergometer; Other: Educational sessions; In addition, four educational sessions will be conducted to provide dietary recommendations to all participants. These sessions will aim to promote balanced eating habits and to discourage the excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods or alcohol, as these factors could interfere with the intervention outcomes.
Active Comparator: MICT Group; This group will train for 12 weeks	Other: Educational sessions; In addition, four educational sessions will be conducted to provide dietary recommendations to all participants. These sessions will aim to promote balanced eating habits and to discourage the excessive consumption of ultra-processed foods or alcohol, as these factors could interfere with the intervention outcomes.; Other: Moderate-intensity continuous training intervention; The MICT group will perform moderate-intensity continuous training at 60-70% HRmax, corresponding to an RPE of 12-14, for 35-45 minutes on a stationary cycleergometer. Heart rate and physical activity levels will be continuously monitored in both groups using a chest-strap heart rate sensor (Polar H9, Polar Electro, Finland).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max)	VO₂max (ml/min/kg): Change from Baseline at 12 weeks, measured using a submaximal exercise test based on the Åstrand-Ryhming protocol	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Weight	Weight (kg): Changes in weight from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention.	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Height	Height (cm): Changes in height from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention.	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Body mass index (BMI)	BMI (kg/m2): Change from Baseline at 12 weeks, calculated by: weight (kg)/ height (m^2)	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Body fat percentage	Body fat percentage (%): Changes in body fat assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Muscle mass percentage	Muscle mass percentage (%): Changes in muscle mass measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Waist circumference	Waist circumference (cm): Changes in waist circumference will be measured using a Lufkin measuring tape (USA) following the guidelines of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK)	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Waist-to-hip ratio	Waist-to-hip ratio: Changes in waist-to-hip ratio will be calculated by dividing the waist measurement by the hip measurement	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Glucose	Glucose (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Triglycerides	Triglycerides (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Total cholesterol	Total cholesterol (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 12 weeks
HDL cholesterol	HDL cholesterol (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 12 weeks
LDL cholesterol	LDL cholesterol (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 12 weeks
C-reactive protein (CRP)	CRP (mg/dl): Changes from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Systolic blood pressure (SBP)	SBP (mmHg): Changes from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 12 weeks
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP)	DBP (mmHg): Changes from baseline to 12 weeks of intervention	Baseline and after 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Centro Universitario de Tlajomulco, Universidad de Guadalajara

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 3, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 13, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 11, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 15, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 15, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 11, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: obesity; HIIT; MICT
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Overweight; Obesity
• Other Study ID Numbers: CUTLAJO251028

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No