Evidence mapPaperPMID 41488923Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in physiology2025

Is low-volume high intensity interval training a time-efficient strategy for improving body composition and cardiovascular health in children and adolescents? Evidence from a systematic review and three-level meta-analysis.

Weihua Zheng, Yue Xing, Mingyue Yin, Yan Guo, Shunzhe Piao, Yang Cao, Hongbo Chen, Hansen Li

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in physiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Weihua ZhengSchool of Social Sports, Shenyang Sport University, Shengyang, China.
Yue XingSchool of Social Sports, Shenyang Sport University, Shengyang, China.
Mingyue YinAustralian Catholic University, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Yan GuoSport Institute, Hua Qiao University, Quanzhou, China.
Shunzhe PiaoSchool of Social Sports, Shenyang Sport University, Shengyang, China.
Yang CaoClinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Hongbo ChenFuzhou Software Technology Vocational College, Department of Military and Physical Education, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
Hansen LiSchool of Physical Education, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: This meta-analysis assessed the impact of low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT) on body composition and cardiovascular health in children and adolescents, while examining potential moderating factors. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library (CENTRAL), and CNKI from inception to April 2025. A three-level random-effects model was used to estimate the overall effects, and subgroup analyses supplemented with meta-regression were performed to explore potential moderators and sources of heterogeneity. Results: A total of 23 studies (996 participants, including 246 females) were included, with 6 studies on normal-weight and 17 on overweight/obese individuals. Compared with controls, low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT) significantly reduced BMI (g = -1.24), fat mass (g = -0.99), body fat (g = -0.89), waistline (g = -0.42), weight (g = -0.34), and SBP (g = -0.37), while improving VO Conclusion: LV-HIIT can effectively and time-efficiently improve body composition and cardiovascular health in children and adolescents, with overall effects comparable to MICT. Exercise prescriptions should carefully consider weight status, age, and intervention characteristics; however, given the limited number of studies and potential bias, the conclusions should be interpreted with caution. Limited descriptive comparisons indicate that LV-HIIT produces effects similar to SSG and SIT, and may offer greater benefits than MIIT. Systematic Review Registration: https://osf.io/exhjm/.

Indexed as

adolescentsbody compositioncardiovascular healthchildrenLV-HIITtime-efficient strategy

Identifiers

PMID41488923
PMCPMC12757267

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.