CONTEXT: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been widely used to prevent and treat cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents and adults; nevertheless, the available evidence in children is scarce. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize evidence regarding the effectiveness of HIIT interventions on improving cardiovascular risk factors and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in children from 5 to 12 years old. DATA SOURCES: We searched 5 databases, Medline, Embase, SPORTDiscus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of HIIT interventions on cardiometabolic risk factors and CRF in children were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Meta-analyses were conducted to determine the effect of HIIT on body composition, cardiometabolic and CRF variables in comparison with nontraining control groups. RESULTS: A total of 11 RCTs and 512 participants were included. The results of the meta- analysis revealed a significant improvement in peak oxygen uptake (standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28 to 1.12; p = 0.001), in total cholesterol (SMD 1.09, 95% CI 1.88 to 0.30; p = 0.007), in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (SMD 1.28, 95% CI 2.34 to 0.23; p = 0.017) and triglycerides (SMD 0.71, 95% CI 1.15 to 0.28; p = 0.001) levels. LIMITATIONS: Because of the small number of available RCTs, it was not possible to conduct a subgroup analysis or a linear meta-regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: HIIT is a feasible and time-efficient approach for improving CRF, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides levels in children.
Reproduced with permission from Pediatrics. Copyright by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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