Abstract
Strong evidence suggests that physical inactivity increases the risk of overweight and obesity and its subsequent comorbidities related to cardiac risk including high blood pressure, vascular abnormalities, and atherosclerosis. Time, cost, and accessibility to fitness programs have been the most common barriers to exercise. High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to be an effective form of training for improving body composition, vascular markers of cardiac risk, and aerobic fitness, making it an appealing option. HIIT virtual exercise programs with real-time instruction may be a practical solution to provide an effective exercise alternative to traditional onsite HIIT. Therefore, this study compared the effects of a 10-week HIIT intervention using either a traditional onsite setting (OFT) (N=9) to one using an interactive-livestreamed virtual setting (VFT) (N=11), on selected outcome variables. These variables included anthropometric measures i.e., percent body fat, central obesity measures i.e.,waist circumference (WC), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), vascular markers of cardiac risk i.e., carotid femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), augmentation index (AIx) and aerobic fitness using laps completed on a PACER test. A mixed-design of analysis of variance showed within group improvements in both VFT and OFT groups for WC (p<0.05), VAT (p<0.05) and cfPWV (p<0.05). Although both groups of participants showed significant within group improvements for aerobic fitness, the OFT group showed greater aerobic improvements than the VFT group (p<0.05). Our results demonstrate that a 10-week HIIT program performed either onsite or on an interactive-livestreamed virtual platform can improve central fat distribution, vascular health, and aerobic fitness in the overweight/obese female adult population. Given the greater reliance on virtual options in the COVID era, our findings support the benefit and utility of home-based HIIT for personal health.