High Intensity Interval Versus Continuous Moderate Intensity Training: Maximizing the Benefits of Exercise in Overweight Adolescents

Inclusion Criteria:

- Ages 17-22

- Men

- BMI (25.0 - 35.0 kg/m2)

- Interested in improving health and fitness

Exclusion Criteria:

- Weight loss or gain of >10% of body weight in the past 6 months for any reason.

- Currently taking medication that suppresses or stimulates appetite.

- History of prior surgical procedure for weight control or liposuction.

- Current smoker.

Any major disease, including:

- Active cancer or cancer requiring treatment in the past 2 years (except nonmelanoma
skin cancer).

- Active or chronic infections, including self-reported HIV positivity and active
tuberculosis.

- Diagnosed heart conditions.

- Uncontrolled hypertension: systolic blood pressure 160 mm Hg or diastolic blood
pressure 95 mm Hg on treatment.

- Gastrointestinal disease, including self-reported chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, any
episode of alcoholic hepatitis or alcoholic pancreatitis within past year,
inflammatory bowel disease requiring treatment in the past year, recent or
significant abdominal surgery (e.g., gastrectomy).

- Asthma.

- Diagnosed diabetes (type 1 or 2), fasting impaired glucose tolerance (blood glucose
118 mg/dL), or use of any anti-diabetic medications.

- Conditions or behaviors likely to effect the conduct of the trial: unable or
unwilling to give informed consent; unable to communicate with the pertinent
clinic staff; unwilling to accept treatment assignment by randomization; current
or anticipated participation in another intervention research project that would
interfere with the intervention offered in the trial; likely to move away from
participating clinics before trial completed; unable to walk 0.25 mile in 10
minutes.

- Currently taking antidepressant, steroid, or thyroid medication, unless dosage
is stable (no change for 6 months).

- Any active use of illegal or illicit drugs.

- Excessive alcohol intake defined as an average consumption of 3 or more alcohol
containing beverages daily.

- Unwilling to limit alcohol intake to ≤2 drink per day (one drink = 4 oz. wine,
12 oz. beer, or ½ shot of liquor).

- Current exerciser (>30 min organized exercise per week).

- Indication of unsuitability of current health for exercise protocol (PARQ).

- Any other conditions which, in opinion of the investigators, would adversely
affect the conduct of the trial.