The Study
Greater effects of high- compared with moderate-intensity interval training on cardio-metabolic variables, blood leptin concentration and ratings of perceived exertion in obese adolescent females
This study gave two different workout plans to girls and saw which one made them healthier. It shows that one plan might work better than the other, but it doesn't prove it will work the same way for everyone else, like boys or kids in other countries.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Teens who did short, super-hard sprints lost more belly fat and felt less tired after exercise than those who did longer, easier sprints — but both groups got better at running.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 563 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — losing belly fat and feeling less tired during exercise can help teens stay active longer and reduce diabetes risk.
- 2HIIT: waist got 3.2cm smaller, RPE dropped 29%, fat loss 22–23%.
- 3MIIT: VO2max improved more (3.5% vs 2.2%), RPE dropped 14%.
- 4Both lowered insulin and leptin.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Biology of Sport
Year
2016
Authors
Ghazi Racil, Jérémy Coquart, Wassim Elmontassar, M. Haddad, Ruben Goebel, A. Chaouachi, M. Amri, Karim Chamari
Related Content
Claims (6)
Twenty to thirty minutes of high-intensity training results in more metabolic improvement than several hours of moderate cardio.
Obese adolescent females who perform 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training at 100% maximal aerobic speed three times per week experience larger decreases in body mass, body fat percentage, and waist circumference than those who perform moderate-intensity interval training at 80% maximal aerobic speed.
In obese adolescent females, 12 weeks of moderate-intensity interval training increases maximal oxygen uptake by 2.2–3.5% more than high-intensity interval training.
After twelve weeks of high- or moderate-intensity interval training, obese adolescent females experience a 22–23% decrease in blood leptin levels, which corresponds to a reduction in body fat and, in the moderate-intensity group, an increase in aerobic capacity.
Obese adolescent females who do 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training experience a 29% lower rating of perceived exertion after maximal exercise compared to those who do moderate-intensity training, which results in a 14% reduction.
In obese adolescent females, 12 weeks of high-intensity interval training leads to a larger decrease in fasting insulin and HOMA-IR than moderate-intensity interval training.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.