The Benefits of a High-intensity Interval Training Intervention Delivered in a School Setting Among Adolescents

University of Exeter

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Behavioral: Control group; Behavioral: High-intensity interval training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06374732

TY2024002

Details and patient eligibility

About

A 12-week school-based high-intensity interval training intervention, with 8 classes of year 7 students randomly allocated to either intervention or control group. The interval training sessions will last for 6 to 10 minutes and will be delivered 5 times per week. Outcome variables will be physical activity, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, bone health, executive function, mental wellbeing, and academic performance, which will be measured pre- and post-intervention and two months after the intervention has been completed.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to: 1) evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week school-based HIIT intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness (primary outcome), physical activity, body composition, muscular strength, bone health, executive function, wellbeing, enjoyment, affect, self-efficacy and academic performance among 12-13-year-old adolescents; 2) to examine the changes of these outcomes following a two-month unstructured summer holiday after the study has been completed; 3) to conduct a process evaluation for the study.

The study is a 12-week high-intensity interval training intervention, which is 6 to 10-minute in length and will be delivered 5 times per week among year 7 adolescents, at the start of physical education and physical activity lessons. We will examine the effectiveness of this intervention on outcomes, such as body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular health, bone health, cognitive function, mental wellbeing, and academic performance. In addition, The investigators will evaluate the fitness changes between school days (structured day) and a two-month summer holiday (unstructured days). This will be achieved by collecting data at three timepoints: pre- and post-intervention and after a 2-month (summer holiday) following the completion of the intervention.

The high-intensity interval training includes resistance-based exercises, such as jumping jacks, high knees, burpees, squat jumps, lunge jumps, and mountain climbers.

Enrollment: 369 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 11 to 13 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Year 7 students

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to perform high-intensity exercises due to existing medical contraindications
• Unable to understand the study procedures and provide consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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369 participants in 2 patient groups

High-intensity interval training group

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group, which will perform high-intensity interval training (HIIT), 5 time per week for 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: High-intensity interval training

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Control group, which will continue their normal physical activity, including their usual physical education classes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control group