Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training Intervention on Physical Fitness and Body Mass Index of Overweight Primary Schoolchildren

Abstract

Being overweight has serious health consequences for schoolchildren. Schools use different physical education (PE) programs for obesity prevention in children, but the overall positive impact of school-based interventions is questionable. This scientific work investigated the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) intervention on physical fitness performance and body mass index (BMI) of overweight primary schoolchildren (seven years old males). Sixty-four boys, who had overweight, participated in this study. All participants practiced 44 PE classes. Control group (G1; n=32; mean age: 7.46±0.32 years; mean height: 123.35±3.28 cm; mean body mass: 27.81±2.32 kg; mean BMI: 17.82±0.11) performed curriculum PE during the investigation. The experimental group (G2; n=32; mean age: 7.54±0.27 years; mean height: 123.26±3.41 cm; mean body mass: 27.84±2.07 kg; mean BMI: 17.78±0.14) performed sixteen-week HIIT intervention in PE classes. Participants' height, weight, BMI, and physical fitness: push-up test, running sprint test, standing long jump test (SLJ), seat-and-reach test (SRT), and six-minute walk test (6MWT) were assessed in pre- and post-PE intervention. There were significant (p<0.05) differences between both groups in fitness tests and BMI values in the post- intervention period. Participants (G2), who practiced HIIT intervention, demonstrated a higher value in fitness performance tests, except for SRT. Children (G2) demonstrated significant (p< 0.05) lower values of BMI in the post-intervention period. A sixteen-week HIIT intervention in PE classes is effective in increasing of fitness performance and decrease of BMI in overweight primary schoolchildren. Incorporating different HIIT in the PE curriculum could be effective part of overweight prevention in primary schoolchildren.

Keywords

• Boys
• Curriculum PE
• Fitness performance
• HIIT
• Overweight prevention

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