Low-intensity continuous training with blood flow restriction, moderate-intensity continuous training, and high-intensity interval training significantly improved maximal oxygen uptake (p<0.01) and decreased body fat percentage (p<0.05) compared to no exercise.
RCT (n=50)
Open-label
Randomly assigned
No
Do different exercise programs (LICT-BFR, MICT, HIIT) improve cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in healthy, physically inactive college students?
LICT-BFR, MICT, and HIIT all effectively improve cardiorespiratory fitness in inactive college students, with MICT offering the most benefit for body composition improvement.
p-value: p=<0.01
The cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of college students is showing a downward trend, this study aimed to explore the effects of three exercise programs on CRF and body composition indicators in college students. A total of 50 non-smoking, healthy and physically inactive students were recruited from campus in Beijing, China, and randomly assigned to 4 groups: low-intensity continuous training with blood flow restriction (LICT-BFR, n = 13), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT, n = 13), high-intensity interval training (HIIT, n = 12), and no exercise control (n = 12), the intervention continued for 8 weeks. Body composition and aerobic capacity were measured before and after the intervention. Exercise groups reached significant improvements in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max, p < 0.01) and a decrease in body fat percentage (p < 0.05) comparing to the control group. The fat mass and visceral fat area reduced significantly (p < 0.05) with a muscle mass growth (p < 0.05) in the LICT-BFR and MICT groups comparing to the control group. Changes of fat and muscle mass were trivial in the HIIT group (p = 0.842, p = 0.247). All three exercise programs can improve the CRF of college students, with LICT-BFR has the most profound effects, and MICT is more beneficial for body composition improvement than other programs. From an overall perspective, LICT-BFR should be the ideal choice, however, due to limited equipment, college students can choose MICT or HIIT according to their situations.
Lan et al. (Fri,) conducted a rct in Physically inactive (n=50). Low-intensity continuous training with blood flow restriction (LICT-BFR), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. No exercise control was evaluated on Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (p=<0.01). Low-intensity continuous training with blood flow restriction, moderate-intensity continuous training, and high-intensity interval training significantly improved maximal oxygen uptake (p<0.01) and decreased body fat percentage (p<0.05) compared to no exercise.