High-intensity Interval Training clinical trials

"HIIT Med Kiloene".

In Denmark, 15% of children are overweight and 5% obese. Obese children and adolescents have several metabolic complications, such as pre-diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and excess fat deposition in liver, already at a young age. In addition, obese children suffer from psychological issues such as low quality of life and anxiety. These findings underline the need for effective treatment strategies to eliminate the development of obesity-related complications. We will conduct a two-study project in order to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and lifestyle intervention in obese children and adolescents on several metabolic risk factors and psychological problems. Study 1 is a randomized controlled study including 150 obese children and adolescents recruited from the municipal obesity clinics in Northern Jutland. Study 1 will examine the value of a group based HIIT intervention in the children's local environment and investigate the association between HIIT and psychosocial wellbeing. Study 2 is a randomized controlled study including 60 severe obese children and adolescents recruited from Videnscenter for Børn og Unge med Overvægt (VIBUO) at Aalborg University Hospital. Study 2 investigates the effect of HIIT and lifestyle intervention on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. In both studies, the children and adolescents are 9-16 years old and will be randomized to lifestyle guidance or a combination of HIIT and lifestyle guidance for 3 months, both followed by 9 months of lifestyle guidance only. Our primary goal is to show the efficacy of HIIT and facilitate the establishment of permanent targeted training propositions for obese children and adolescents with local anchoring in the municipalities.