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Cited by 107Physical Activity and HealthPhysical Education and Training StudiesObesity, Physical Activity, Diet

Preliminary efficacy and feasibility of embedding high intensity interval training into the school day: A pilot randomized controlled trial

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Costigan, S.A., Eather, N., Plotnikoff, R.C., Taaffe, D.R., Pollock, E., Kennedy, S.G., Lubans, D.R.·2015·Preventive Medicine Reports
DOI 10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.11.001PMC PMC4733031
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Abstract

Current physical activity and fitness levels among adolescents are low, increasing the risk of chronic disease. Although the efficacy of high intensity interval training (HIIT) for improving metabolic health is now well established, it is not known if this type of activity can be effective to improve adolescent health. The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of embedding HIIT into the school day. A 3-arm pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted in one secondary school in Newcastle, Australia. Participants (n = 65; mean age = 15.8(0.6) years) were randomized into one of three conditions: aerobic exercise program (AEP) (n = 21), resistance and aerobic exercise program (RAP) (n = 22) and control (n = 22). The 8-week intervention consisted of three HIIT sessions per week (8-10 min/session), delivered during physical education (PE) lessons or at lunchtime. Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention to detect changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (multi-stage shuttle-run), muscular fitness (push-up, standing long jump tests), body composition (Body Mass Index (BMI), BMI-z scores, waist circumference) and physical activity motivation (questionnaire), by researchers blinded to treatment allocation. Intervention effects for outcomes were examined using linear mixed models, and Cohen's d effect sizes were reported. Participants in the AEP and RAP groups had moderate intervention effects for waist circumference (p = 0.024), BMI-z (p = 0.037) and BMI (not significant) in comparison to the control group. A small intervention effect was also evident for cardiorespiratory fitness in the RAP group.

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  • The SAAFE principles have since evolved to support the delivery of school-based physical activity interventions targeting adolescents.

    “The SAAFE principles have also since evolved to support the delivery of school-based physical activity interventions targeting adolescents [54–56].”

    From Framework for the design and delivery of organized physical activity sessions for children and adolescents: rationale and description of the ‘SAAFE’ teaching principles (2017) · cites this paper as [54]

    The Methods (Study design) describe an adolescent school-based physical activity intervention with enjoyable sessions, peer support and participant choice; the Conclusions connect its delivery to autonomy-supportive principles. However, the paper does not name the SAAFE principles or say that they evolved to support these interventions. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Costigan, S. A., Eather, N., Plotnikoff, R. C., Taaffe, D. R., Pollock, E., Kennedy, S. G., & Lubans, D. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Newcastle Australia (AU)
  • Edith Cowan University (AU)
Corresponding author
Lubans, D.R.
ORCID
Venue
Preventive Medicine Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015
Volume
2
Pages
973-979
ISSN
2211-3355 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.pmedr.2015.11.001
PMC
PMC4733031
OpenAlex
W2177549365
Cited by
107
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 3
FWCI
3.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Preventive Medicine Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Australasian Journal of Paramedicine (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion)
  • NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT140100399)
  • National Health and Medical Research Council Senior Research Fellowship (APP1023602)
  • Hunter Medical Research Institute Project Grant (Children's Research in Cardiovascular) (G1500311)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation › Physical Education and Training Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Keywords
high-intensity interval training, adolescents, school-based physical activity, physical education, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, body composition, waist circumference, resistance training, aerobic exercise, exercise motivation, feasibility

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