Comparison of the effects of aquatic HIIT and MICT on central hemodynamics, endothelial function, and aerobic fitness in obese school-aged children: a randomized controlled trial.
6 affiliations
- 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
- 2Dr. Neher's Biophysics Laboratory for Innovative Drug Discovery, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China. [email protected].
- 3Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, 1268 Middle Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510500, China. [email protected].
- 4Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- 5Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. [email protected].
- 6Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University, 1268 Middle Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510500, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Aquatic exercise may be a feasible strategy for improving cardiovascular health in children with obesity, but evidence comparing aquatic high-intensity interval training (aHIIT) and aquatic moderate-intensity continuous training (aMICT) remains limited. This pilot randomized controlled trial compared the effects of 8 weeks of aHIIT and aMICT on endothelial function, estimated cardiorespiratory fitness, central hemodynamic indices, arterial stiffness, and anthropometric indicators in school-aged children with obesity.Methods
Thirty-three children with obesity were randomized to the aHIIT group (n = 11), aMICT group (n = 11), or non-exercise control group (n = 11). The two aquatic exercise groups trained 3 days/week for 8 weeks. The aHIIT protocol consisted of 10 × 30-s high-intensity aquatic exercise (such as freestyle swimming or freestyle kicking) bouts at 80%-90% HRmax, separated by 60-s recovery intervals, whereas the aMICT protocol consisted of two 15-min continuous breaststroke bouts at 60%-70% HRmax, separated by a 5-min recovery interval. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was used as the principal vascular outcome. Central hemodynamic indices were assessed using applanation tonometry, and estimated VO2max was obtained from the 20-m shuttle run test. Intervention effects were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, with the group × time interaction used as the primary test for differential intervention effects.Results
Significant group × time interactions were observed for estimated VO2max, FMD, AIx, and AIx@HR75. Estimated VO2max increased in both aquatic exercise groups compared with the control group. FMD improved in both exercise groups, with a greater increase observed after aHIIT. AIx and AIx@HR75 showed favorable changes after aMICT. No significant group × time interactions were observed for resting blood pressure, SEVR, ABI, cfPWV, or baPWV.Conclusion
This pilot trial suggests that both aHIIT and aMICT may improve estimated cardiorespiratory fitness in school-aged children with obesity. aHIIT may be associated with greater improvement in brachial artery endothelial function, whereas aMICT may have favorable effects on selected wave-reflection-related indices. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size, indirect estimated VO2max estimation, lack of maturation assessment, and unmatched exercise workload.Trial registration
Chinese Clinical Trial Registration, ChiCTR2400080687.05/02/2024.
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BibTeX
@article{huang2026comparison,
title = {{Comparison of the effects of aquatic HIIT and MICT on central hemodynamics, endothelial function, and aerobic fitness in obese school-aged children: a randomized controlled trial.}},
author = {Junhao Huang and Weiwei Huang and Yongpeng Zheng and Weishan Lu and Shen Wang and Min Hu},
journal = {BMC sports science, medicine \& rehabilitation},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s13102-026-01918-z},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908020},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comparison of the effects of aquatic HIIT and MICT on central hemodynamics, endothelial function, and aerobic fitness in obese school-aged children: a randomized controlled trial.
AU - Junhao Huang
AU - Weiwei Huang
AU - Yongpeng Zheng
AU - Weishan Lu
AU - Shen Wang
AU - Min Hu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation
DO - 10.1186/s13102-026-01918-z
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908020
AB - Background Aquatic exercise may be a feasible strategy for improving cardiovascular health in children with obesity, but evidence comparing aquatic high-intensity interval training (aHIIT) and aquatic moderate-intensity continuous training (aMICT) remains limited. This pilot randomized controlled trial compared the effects of 8 weeks of aHIIT and aMICT on endothelial function, estimated cardiorespiratory fitness, central hemodynamic indices, arterial stiffness, and anthropometric indicators in school-aged children with obesity.Methods Thirty-three children with obesity were randomized to the aHIIT group (n = 11), aMICT group (n = 11), or non-exercise control group (n = 11). The two aquatic exercise groups trained 3 days/week for 8 weeks. The aHIIT protocol consisted of 10 × 30-s high-intensity aquatic exercise (such as freestyle swimming or freestyle kicking) bouts at 80%-90% HRmax, separated by 60-s recovery intervals, whereas the aMICT protocol consisted of two 15-min continuous breaststroke bouts at 60%-70% HRmax, separated by a 5-min recovery interval. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was used as the principal vascular outcome. Central hemodynamic indices were assessed using applanation tonometry, and estimated VO2max was obtained from the 20-m shuttle run test. Intervention effects were analyzed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, with the group × time interaction used as the primary test for differential intervention effects.Results Significant group × time interactions were observed for estimated VO2max, FMD, AIx, and AIx@HR75. Estimated VO2max increased in both aquatic exercise groups compared with the control group. FMD improved in both exercise groups, with a greater increase observed after aHIIT. AIx and AIx@HR75 showed favorable changes after aMICT. No significant group × time interactions were observed for resting blood pressure, SEVR, ABI, cfPWV, or baPWV.Conclusion This pilot trial suggests that both aHIIT and aMICT may improve estimated cardiorespiratory fitness in school-aged children with obesity. aHIIT may be associated with greater improvement in brachial artery endothelial function, whereas aMICT may have favorable effects on selected wave-reflection-related indices. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size, indirect estimated VO2max estimation, lack of maturation assessment, and unmatched exercise workload.Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registration, ChiCTR2400080687.05/02/2024.
SN - 2052-1847
ER -