Psycho-Physiological Responses to a 4-Month High-Intensity Interval Training-Centered Multidisciplinary Weight-Loss Intervention in Adolescents with Obesity

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of 4 months of a high-intensity interval training (HIIT)-centered weightmanagement intervention on health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), health perception (HP) and physical selfperception (PSP) in adolescents with obesity. METHODS: Fifty-six adolescents with obesity (28 girls; mean body mass index [BMI], 35±4.89 kg/m(2); z-BMI, 2.3±0.3; 11?17 years) followed a multidisciplinary weight-management intervention composed of nutritional counseling, HIIT program, and health-related therapeutic education. Anthropometric parameters, body composition (dual X-ray absorptiometry), and maximal aerobic capacities (maximal oxygen consumption [VO(2peak)]) were assessed, and self-reported questionnaires were used to assess HR-QOL (36-item short form survey), HP and PSP at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). RESULTS: Body weight (92.6±18.9 to 85.9±16.2 kg), BMI (35.0±4.8 to 32.1±4.5 kg/m(2)), z-BMI (2.3±0.3 to 2.1±0.3) and fat mass percentage (36.0%±9.1% to 30.4%±7.8%) were significantly decreased (P<0.001) between T0 and T1. There was a tendency for VO(2peak) to increase from 26.35±5.81 mL/kg/min at T0 to 28.79±6.59 mL/kg/min at T1 (P=0.06). Physical functioning (P=0.002), physical limitation (P=0.048), general health (P<0.001) and bodily pain (P=0.030) were improved at T1. A significant improvement occurred in dimensions of HP such as physical condition (P=0.001), adiposity (P<0.001), alimentation (P<0.001), general health (P=0.038), and perceived general health (P=0.001). In addition, there was an improvement in items of PSP such as self-perceived coordination (P=0.022), endurance (P=0.001) and activity (P=0.001), global self-concept (P=0.015), and appearance (P=0.016). Physical but not mental HR-QOL domains, HP and PSP were associated with weight reduction. CONCLUSION: While HIIT favors improved HR-QOL, HP status and PSP in adolescents with obesity, physical but not mental HR-QOL, HP and PSP were associated with weight reduction.