HIIT vs MICT Exercise for Sedentary Lifestyle

Overseen By Aubrey Roberts, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Stanford University

Must not be taking: Anticoagulants, Beta blockers, Antipsychotics, others

Disqualifiers: Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

135 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to compare the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on human health outcomes in healthy sedentary subjects, over 12 weeks of exercise training. The investigators will compare several health parameters, such as changes in multiomics profile, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and body composition, before and after 12-week interventions of either HIIT or MICT.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

Yes, you may need to stop taking certain medications to join the trial. The study excludes participants who have used any new drug or changed the dose of any drug in the last 3 months, and those taking specific medications like anticoagulants, beta blockers, and others listed in the exclusion criteria.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Exercise intervention, Physical Activity Intervention, Exercise Therapy, Physical Therapy for sedentary lifestyle?

Research shows that both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) can reduce sedentary time and improve health markers like cardiovascular health and fitness levels. In particular, combining HIIT with MICT has been found to enhance overall fitness and health outcomes more effectively than MICT alone. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is high-intensity interval training (HIIT) safe for humans?

Research shows that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is generally safe for various groups, including elderly women, people with elevated cardiovascular risk, and sedentary obese individuals. It has been effectively used to improve physical health, cardiovascular fitness, and body composition without significant safety concerns. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

How does the exercise treatment for a sedentary lifestyle differ from other treatments?

The exercise treatment using high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is unique because it provides a more efficient way to improve exercise capacity and physical health compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). HIIT requires less time to achieve similar or greater health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular fitness and body composition. ^{3 6 7 9 10}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for healthy adults over 18 who have been mostly inactive in the past year, with a BMI between >18 and <40. Participants should not be pregnant or planning pregnancy soon, nor have conditions like diabetes, abnormal bleeding, thyroid disease, severe heart issues, high blood pressure, extreme cholesterol levels, recent cancer treatment (except skin cancer), chronic infections or kidney problems. They shouldn't use certain medications or consume excessive alcohol/tobacco.

Inclusion Criteria

Body mass index (BMI) > 18 to < 40 kg/m2

Sedentary in the past year, defined as regular (structured) endurance exercise or resistance training, no more than 1 hour per week

Not be pregnant or lactating in the last 12 months, or planning to become pregnant for the next 4 months

Exclusion Criteria

Alcohol consumption

I have diabetes.

Abnormal blood lipid profile

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for 12 weeks

12 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in health parameters such as multiomics profile, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and body composition

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Exercise intervention

Trial Overview The study aims to compare two exercise programs: High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT). Over 12 weeks, participants will follow one of these routines to see which has a better effect on health outcomes such as fitness level changes, muscle strength improvements and body composition adjustments.

Participant Groups

Group I: MICT group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized in this group will be assigned to 12 weeks of moderate-intensity continuous training.

Group II: HIIT group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants randomized in this group will be assigned to 12 weeks high intensity interval training.

Group III: Control group Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Stanford University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,527

Recruited

17,430,000+

Findings from Research

A 13-week study involving 54 physically inactive adults showed that a personalized exercise program combining moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improved cardiovascular fitness (VO2max) and metabolic health (MetS z-score) compared to a standardized MICT program and a control group.

All participants in the personalized MICT + HIIT group experienced positive changes in their fitness and metabolic health, indicating that tailored exercise prescriptions can lead to more effective and consistent health benefits than standard approaches.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Personalized Moderate-Intensity Exercise Training Combined with High-Intensity Interval Training Enhances Training Responsiveness. Byrd, BR., Keith, J., Keeling, SM., et al.[2020]

This study will evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and guideline-based physical activity on cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and motor function in 330 elderly sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes over 12 weeks.

The primary outcomes will focus on changes in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), with the hypothesis that both HIIT and MICT will improve health markers more effectively than the guideline-based program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of high-intensity interval training, moderate-intensity continuous training, and guideline-based physical activity on cardiovascular metabolic markers, cognitive and motor function in elderly sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes (HIIT-DM): a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Yu, P., Zhu, Z., He, J., et al.[2023]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) was found to be feasible and safe for older hospitalized patients, with an 88% completion rate among those who participated in at least one session, indicating good adherence to the program.

While HIIT showed a lower overall completion rate (44%) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) (77%), both training methods did not result in significant differences in muscle strength, gait speed, or exercise capacity, suggesting that both can be effective rehabilitation options.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and safety of high-intensity interval training for the rehabilitation of geriatric inpatients (HIITERGY) a pilot randomized study. Pires Peixoto, R., Trombert, V., Poncet, A., et al.[2020]

In a preliminary study involving overweight and obese adults, both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) significantly reduced the amount of time participants spent being sedentary during the exercise intervention.

This suggests that engaging in either HIIT or MICT can effectively replace sedentary activities with more active behaviors, promoting overall health benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The influence of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on sedentary time in overweight and obese adults. Nugent, SF., Jung, ME., Bourne, JE., et al.[2022]

A study involving 11 manual wheelchair users found that both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) were feasible and safe for home-based exercise, with no severe adverse events reported.

While neither training program significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness or upper limb strength, participants in both groups reported moderate to significant subjective improvements, indicating potential benefits of these training methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility, Safety, and Preliminary Effectiveness of a Home-Based Self-Managed High-Intensity Interval Training Program Offered to Long-Term Manual Wheelchair Users. Gauthier, C., Brosseau, R., Hicks, AL., et al.[2022]

A 16-week study involving 24 inactive elderly women demonstrated that high-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improved fasting plasma glucose levels and cardiorespiratory fitness compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT).

Both HIIT and MICT led to reductions in body fat and waist circumference, but HIIT showed greater improvements in lipid profiles and functional abilities, indicating it is a more effective exercise option for enhancing physical health in elderly women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training for Improving Physical Health in Elderly Women. Rohmansyah, NA., Ka Praja, R., Phanpheng, Y., et al.[2023]

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can lead to equal or greater improvements in aerobic capacity compared to traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), while also positively affecting body composition, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and quality of life.

HIIT offers a significant time advantage, allowing individuals to achieve the same energy expenditure in a shorter duration, making it a practical option for both healthy adults and those with cardiovascular diseases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Salutary effects of high-intensity interval training in persons with elevated cardiovascular risk. Fleg, JL.[2018]

A 12-week study involving 46 sedentary obese individuals showed that high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), and a shorter HIIT (1/2HIIT) all led to significant reductions in body weight, waist and hip circumference, and fat mass, while increasing fat-free mass and cardiovascular fitness, with no significant differences between the training methods.

Despite improvements in body composition and fitness, there were no significant changes in resting metabolism rate, nonexercise physical activity levels, or insulin response, suggesting that all three training protocols are equally effective for metabolic and cardiovascular benefits in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

High-Intensity Interval Training and Isocaloric Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training Result in Similar Improvements in Body Composition and Fitness in Obese Individuals. Martins, C., Kazakova, I., Ludviksen, M., et al.[2018]

In a study of 21 patients with myocardial infarction, both home-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) improved functional capacity and health outcomes over 12 weeks.

HIIT was found to be more effective than MICT in enhancing pulmonary function and lower extremity muscle strength, indicating that HIIT may offer additional benefits for patients recovering from a heart attack.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of home-based high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training in patients with myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial. Yakut, H., Dursun, H., Felekoğlu, E., et al.[2022]

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in improving aerobic capacity in dogs, involving 30 dogs over a 12-week training period.

The research aims to measure various physiological parameters, including maximal speed and lactate threshold, to determine if HIIT provides superior benefits in enhancing physical performance in dogs compared to MICT.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of high-intensity interval training compared with moderate-intensity continuous training on maximal aerobic potency in dogs: Trial protocol for a randomised controlled clinical study. Orozco, SC., Arias, MP., Carvajal, PA., et al.[2023]

References

1. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Personalized Moderate-Intensity Exercise Training Combined with High-Intensity Interval Training Enhances Training Responsiveness. [2020]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of high-intensity interval training, moderate-intensity continuous training, and guideline-based physical activity on cardiovascular metabolic markers, cognitive and motor function in elderly sedentary patients with type 2 diabetes (HIIT-DM): a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and safety of high-intensity interval training for the rehabilitation of geriatric inpatients (HIITERGY) a pilot randomized study. [2020]

4. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The influence of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on sedentary time in overweight and obese adults. [2022]

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

Feasibility, Safety, and Preliminary Effectiveness of a Home-Based Self-Managed High-Intensity Interval Training Program Offered to Long-Term Manual Wheelchair Users. [2022]

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

High-Intensity Interval Training Versus Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training for Improving Physical Health in Elderly Women. [2023]

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

Salutary effects of high-intensity interval training in persons with elevated cardiovascular risk. [2018]

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

High-Intensity Interval Training and Isocaloric Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training Result in Similar Improvements in Body Composition and Fitness in Obese Individuals. [2018]

9. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of home-based high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training in patients with myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial. [2022]

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

Efficacy of high-intensity interval training compared with moderate-intensity continuous training on maximal aerobic potency in dogs: Trial protocol for a randomised controlled clinical study. [2023]