Effects of HIIT on body composition in sedentary overweight or obese adults, a systematic review

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to review the effects of high-intensity intermittent training or HIIT on body composition in sedentary adults. For this purpose, a Boolean search technique was used and the inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined according to the objectives and in order to answer the research question, 2,925 articles were identified. In a selection process, 12 articles that met all the inclusion criteria were rescued. The main results show that 100% of the works analyzed show an improvement in terms of body composition; Different results were also obtained in HIIT training methods, the most commonly used being cycloergometer, treadmill, and muscular resistance circuit training, which generally have a duration of 10 to 12 weeks. In conclusion, HIIT training programs are an appropriate option in order to improve body composition in sedentary adults, as long as there is a correct administration of the loads and an optimal training progression.