Effect of High-Intensity Functional Training with Basketball on Cardio-Respiratory Fitness and Functional Movement Performance in Obese Adolescents

PURPOSE: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the potential beneficial effect and efficacy of two distinct high-intensity functional training (HIFT) protocols on cardio-respiratory fitness and functional movement performance in obese adolescents. METHODS: Thirty-three obese adolescents were randomly divided into the HIFT combined with basketball group (HB, n = 11), the HIFT group (n = 11) and the control group (no structured training, n = 11), with a 12-week intervention (3 sessions/week, 45 min/training session). Body composition analysis, pulse wave velocity (PWV), flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measurement, heart rate variability (HRV) assessment, and maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) test, and functional movement performance test (vertec jump, sitting anterior flexion, T-run, 300-yard shuttle run, Y-balance) were employed to evaluate their fitness. RESULTS: Both interventions significantly reduced body weight, BMI, and fat mass, while increasing water content. Additionally, HIFT could increase the inorganic salt content, protein content, and muscle mass, while decreased BMIz significantly. In terms of cardiovascular parameters, both interventions substantially reduced blood pressure. However, HIFT could decrease the cfPWV. Additionally, both interventions significantly decreased the AIx and AIx@HR75, while improving SEVR and FMD. For HRV indices, both interventions decreased the HR, increased the time domain indices (RMSSD, PNN50, SDNN and NN50) and TP of obese adolescents, while also elevating HF and reduced LF/HF ratio compared to the control group. We also found that both interventions could boost VO2max and functional movement performance. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated HB and HIFT exerted comparable efficacy in improving the body composition parameters, cardiovascular function, and functional movement performance in obese adolescents, possibly by mitigating arterial stiffness, balancing autonomic activity, enhancing respiratory fitness and optimizing hemodynamics.