Effects of Moderate and High Intensity Exercise on Body Composition and Resting Energy Expenditure in Moroccan Adolescents: A 12-Week Controlled Study
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Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on body composition, cardiovascular parameters, and resting energy expenditure among overweight Moroccan adolescents.
Methods and Materials: A 12-week controlled intervention study was conducted among 90 Moroccan adolescents aged 12–17 years from middle and high schools in Khemisset, Morocco. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group, MICT group, or HIIT group, with 30 participants in each group. Anthropometric indices, waist-to-hip ratio, fat mass, fat-free mass, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, and resting energy expenditure were assessed before and after the intervention. Body fat percentage was estimated using Slaughter skinfold equations, and resting energy expenditure was predicted using Müller equations. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and post hoc comparisons.
Findings: Significant BMI reductions were observed in the MICT group, 27.59 ± 1.73 to 26.32 ± 1.57, p= .004, and HIIT group, 27.73 ± 1.85 to 26.32 ± 1.80, p= .004, with a significant time × group interaction, p= .004, η²= .10. Waist-to-hip ratio decreased significantly only in the HIIT group, p= .009. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased in MICT, p= .009 and p= .006, and HIIT, both p< .001. Resting heart rate decreased significantly in MICT and HIIT, both p< .001. Fat mass, fat-free mass, and resting energy expenditure did not change significantly within groups, p> .05.
Conclusion: MICT and HIIT improved BMI and cardiovascular parameters but did not significantly alter resting energy expenditure or detailed body composition.
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