HIIT + Mindfulness for Healthy Children

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Shih-Chun (Alvin) Kao, PhD

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1 & 2

Sponsor: Purdue University

Disqualifiers: Neurological diseases, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

352 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to learn about the effect of a 12-week school-based intervention combining mindfulness with high-intensity interval training (MF-HIIT), MF-only intervention, and HIIT-only intervention in relative to sedentary activities on executive function (EF) in 8-12 years old children. The main question it aims to answer is whether a 12-week school-based MF-HIIT intervention has larger beneficial effect on EF performance than that following a 12-week school-based MF-only and HIIT-only in relative to the sedentary activities. Multiple cohorts of participants will be recruited to participate this one-semester study, including the pretest, intervention, and posttest phases. During the pretest phase, participants an their parents will complete the following 1. Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT) to assess intelligence quotient 2. Fitnessgram test to assess aerobic capacity, muscle endurance, flexibility, and body mass index 3. Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) questionnaire to assess dispositional mindfulness 4. Computerized tasks to assess EF 5. Parent-reported demographic and health information Following the pretest phase, participants will receive the 12-week classroom-based intervention, with the classroom as the intervention unit. Following the intervention and during the posttest phase, participants will complete the fitness, measures, EF measures, and dispositional mindfulness measure again. Researcher will compare the EFn outcome measures following the MF-HIIT, MF-only, and HIIT-only interventions with the sedentary activity intervention to see if MF and HIIT has beneficial effects on children's EF. Further, researcher will compare the EF measures following the MF-HIIT compared with MF-only and HIIT-only interventions to see if combining MF with HIIT has greater beneficial effects on children's EF than MF and HIIT alone.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications. It seems focused on exercise and mindfulness, so it's unlikely that medications would need to be stopped, but you should check with the trial organizers to be sure.

Is HIIT + Mindfulness safe for children?

Research suggests that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is generally safe for children, with no reports of acute injuries or serious cardiovascular events. It has been shown to improve fitness and health markers in children and adolescents. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the HIIT + Mindfulness treatment for healthy children differ from other treatments?

The HIIT + Mindfulness treatment is unique because it combines high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which is known to improve cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce cardiometabolic risk factors, with mindfulness practices that may enhance mental well-being and cognitive function. This combination aims to address both physical and mental health in children, which is not typically the focus of standard physical activity programs. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment HIIT + Mindfulness for Healthy Children?

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can improve physical fitness and reduce health risks in children, such as better heart health and fitness levels. While the specific combination of HIIT and mindfulness hasn't been directly studied, HIIT alone has shown positive effects on children's health. ^{2 6 8 10 11}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy children aged 10-12 years old. It's designed to see if a special program combining mindfulness and high-intensity exercise can improve their thinking skills, fitness, and mindfulness compared to just sitting around. The kids must be able to do some tests before and after the program.

Inclusion Criteria

I do not have any diagnosed cognitive or neurological disorders.

I am between 10 and 12 years old.

Intelligence Quotient ≥ 85

Exclusion Criteria

I am not between the ages of 10 and 12.

Not capable of performing exercise based on pre-participation health screening

I have been diagnosed with a cognitive disorder or neurological disease.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Pretest

Participants and their parents complete assessments including intelligence, fitness, mindfulness, and executive function tests

1-2 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants receive a 12-week classroom-based intervention combining mindfulness with high-intensity interval training, or mindfulness-only, or HIIT-only

12 weeks

Posttest

Participants complete the same assessments as in the pretest phase to evaluate changes in fitness, mindfulness, and executive function

1-2 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any long-term effects of the intervention on executive function

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• HIIT-only
• MF-HIIT
• MF-only

Trial Overview The study is testing four different activities: Mindfulness training alone (MF-only), staying sedentary, combined mindfulness with high-intensity interval training (MF-HIIT), and just high-intensity interval training (HIIT-only). Over 12 weeks at school, researchers want to know which activity helps kids' brains work better.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: 12-Week Mindful High-Intensity Interval Training (MF-HIIT) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: 12-Week High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT-only) Active Control 1 Intervention

Group III: 12-Week Mindfulness (MF-only) Active Control 1 Intervention

Group IV: 12-Week Sedentary Activities Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Purdue University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

239

Recruited

72,200+

Published Research Related to This Trial

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improves cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents, as evidenced by better VO2max and heart rate indicators, based on a meta-analysis of 47 studies involving 2995 participants.

However, HIIT does not show significant effects on body shape or certain cardiovascular disease biomarkers, indicating that while it enhances fitness, it may not lead to changes in physical appearance or all metabolic risk factors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of high-intensity interval training on physical morphology, cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic risk factors of cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Men, J., Zou, S., Ma, J., et al.[2023]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to significantly improve various health outcomes, including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle mass, and mental health indicators like anxiety and depression, across diverse populations, as evidenced by 33 systematic reviews involving both healthy individuals and those with health complications.

HIIT is considered safe, with no reported acute injuries and high adherence rates exceeding 80%, suggesting it is a feasible exercise option for many people.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can high-intensity interval training improve physical and mental health outcomes? A meta-review of 33 systematic reviews across the lifespan. Martland, R., Mondelli, V., Gaughran, F., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Children's Enjoyment, Perceived Competency, and Vigorous Physical Activity During High-Intensity Interval Training in Physical Education. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Two weeks of high-intensity interval training improves novel but not traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors in adolescents. [2022]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training in School on the Physical Performance and Health of Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

MOVI-daFIT! Intervention: Rationale and design of a cluster randomized controlled trial testing the effects on improving adiposity, cognition, and subclinical atherosclerosis by increasing cardiorespiratory fitness in children. [2021]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Overweight and Obesity Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. [2021]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of high-intensity interval training on physical morphology, cardiorespiratory fitness and metabolic risk factors of cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Food intake and appetite following school-based high-intensity interval training in 9-11-year-old children. [2018]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Can high-intensity interval training improve physical and mental health outcomes? A meta-review of 33 systematic reviews across the lifespan. [2023]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effectiveness of high-intensity interval training on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular risk factors in children: A protocol for a systematic review. [2022]

10. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Integrating High-Intensity Interval Training into a School Setting Improve Body Composition, Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Physical Activity in Children with Obesity: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]

11. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review of High-Intensity Interval Training for Cognitive and Mental Health in Youth. [2021]