Effects of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous training on overweight or obese college students: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Overweight and obesity are increasingly prevalent among college students, yet the comparative effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in this population remain unclear. We systematically reviewed randomized controlled trials evaluating the impacts of HIIT and MICT on body composition, lipid profiles, and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight or obese college students. Twelve studies were included, and the certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Low-to-very low-certainty evidence suggests that both HIIT and MICT may improve body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and fat mass, while HIIT may offer additional benefits for cardiorespiratory fitness and select lipid markers. However, head-to-head comparisons revealed no consistent statistically significant differences between the two training modalities. Given the overall low certainty of evidence and methodological limitations across studies, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. More rigorous, adequately powered trials are needed to clarify the relative effectiveness of HIIT and MICT for weight management and cardiometabolic health in young adults.