Effects of High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Fat Percentage in Overweight and Obese Children - a Systematic Review

Background More than 340 millions of children worldwide are considered overweight or obese. This number has increased significantly in recent years, partly as a result of the corona pandemic. An alternative treatment to reduce obesity, which has so far not received much attention in the recommendations, is the so-called high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Objective To show the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training on the BMI and body fat percentage of overweight and obese children aged 6-13 years. Method The creation of the systematic review was based on the PRISMA guidelines. For the literature search, the databases MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, Sports Medicine & Education Index and Web of Science were searched for studies with high-intensity interval training for overweight and obese children. The methodological study quality was assessed using PEDro scale, MINORS and Risk of Bias. The report quality was assessed using CONSORT and TREND. Results A total of 6 randomized controlled trials and 2 controlled clinical trials with 479 HIIT-participants were considered. These showed that high-intensity interval training has positive effects on the BMI and body fat percentage of overweight and obese children. Conclusion High-intensity interval training is a child-friendly and effective alternative for the treatment of overweight and obese children. Further clinical studies are needed to confirm the results.