The impact of different high-intensity interval training protocols on body composition and physical fitness in healthy young adult females

Although traditional high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been effective in improving body composition and physical fitness, it is unclear how multimodal HIIT affects these variables. This study compared the differences between these two training programs on body composition and physical fitness in apparently healthy, nonobese young adult females. A total of 16 participants (mean age = 23 ± 5.08 years) completed a 12-week HIIT intervention with two treatment groups: rowing and multimodal. Immediately before and after the intervention, the following measures were assessed: body mass index (BMI), total body mass, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, total body fat %, visceral adipose tissue, lean mass, bone mineral outcomes, cardiovascular fitness, and muscular fitness. A general linear model with repeated measures was used to assess changes over time for the group as a whole, as well as between-group differences. For the group as a whole, there were significant decrease in total body fat % (p = 0.04) and significant increases in BMI (p = 0.015), total body mass (p = 0.003), lean mass (p < 0.001), bone mineral content (BMC) (p < 0.001), VO2max (p = 0.01), broad jump (p = 0.001), squat endurance (p = 0.006), press (p < 0.001), back squat (p < 0.001), and deadlift (p < 0.001) one repetition maximum (1RM). The multimodal group (p < 0.001) increased deadlift 1RM significantly more than the rowing group (p = 0.002). HIIT can be an effective means for improving cardiovascular and muscular fitness, increasing lean mass and BMC, and thereby improving cardiometabolic as well as musculoskeletal health in nonobese females. Using a multimodal approach may give the added benefit of superior muscular strength increases.