Effects of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous training on overweight or obese college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Figure 1. Literature screening flowchart This figure illustrates the study selection process following PRISMA guidelines, including the number of records identified, screened, excluded, and finally included in the meta-analysis.

Figure 2. Summary of risk of bias for included randomized controlled trials This figure summarizes the RoB 2.0 assessment across five domains for each included study, indicating judgments of low risk, some concerns, or high risk.

Figure 3. Effect of HIIT on body weight in overweight or obese college students This forest plot displays standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) with 95% confidence intervals for each study, along with the pooled fixed-effects estimate. Negative values indicate greater reductions in body weight in the HIIT group compared with controls.

Figure 4. Effect of HIIT on BMI in overweight or obese college students This forest plot shows standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) with 95% confidence intervals for individual studies and the pooled fixed-effects estimate. Negative values indicate greater reductions in BMI following HIIT compared with controls.

Figure 5. Effect of MICT on body weight in overweight or obese college students This forest plot presents standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) with 95% confidence intervals for each study, together with the pooled fixed-effects estimate. Negative values indicate greater reduction in body weight in the MICT group relative to controls.

Figure 6. Effect of MICT on BMI in overweight or obese college students This forest plot displays standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) with 95% confidence intervals for each study and the pooled fixed-effects estimate. Negative values indicate greater BMI reduction in the MICT group compared with controls.

Figure 7. Comparative effects of HIIT versus MICT on body weight This forest plot shows standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) with 95% confidence intervals for each study and the pooled fixed-effects estimate. Negative values indicate greater reductions in body weight with HIIT compared with MICT.

Figure 8. Comparative effects of HIIT versus MICT on BMI This forest plot displays standardized mean differences (Hedges’ g) with 95% confidence intervals and the pooled fixed-effects estimate. Effect sizes near zero suggest no significant difference between HIIT and MICT in reducing BMI.