Enhancing Adolescent Physical Fitness and Well-Being: A School-Based High-Intensity Interval Training Program

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Adolescent Health
• Sports Science

Background:

• Investigating the impact of structured exercise interventions on adolescent health.
• Assessing the feasibility of integrating High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) into school physical education curricula.
• Understanding the relationship between physical fitness and quality of life in young males.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the effects of a 12-week school-based High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) program on the quality of life and physical fitness of male adolescents.
• To compare the outcomes of HIIT intervention against a control group within a regular physical education setting.
• To evaluate specific physical fitness components including jump, strength, agility, and flexibility.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week randomized controlled trial involving 60 male adolescents (aged 16.2 ± 0.6 years).
• Participants were assigned to either a HIIT group or a control group (CG).
• Intervention involved 10-minute HIIT sessions twice weekly during physical education warm-ups, alongside quality of life (KIDSCREEN-27) and physical fitness assessments.

Main Results:

• The HIIT group showed significant improvements in physical well-being compared to the control group (p=0.01 vs p=0.42).
• Significant interaction effects between group and time were observed for countermovement jump (p=0.04), agility (p=0.02), medicine ball throw (p=0.04), and sit-ups (p=0.01).
• No significant changes were reported for the control group in these parameters.

Conclusions:

• School-based HIIT is an effective strategy for enhancing physical well-being in adolescents.
• The integration of HIIT into physical education programs can significantly improve key physical fitness metrics in young males.
• This intervention demonstrates a positive impact on adolescent health outcomes within a school setting.