Are the Effects of High-Intensity Interval Exercise on Executive Function, Mental Health, and Mood Obesity Dependent? Academic Article uri icon

Abstract

  • Introduction: High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) is considered a time-efficient intervention
    to improve physical health in individuals with obesity. However, data on psychological
    outcomes are sparse. This study aimed to analyze and compare the acute
    effects of HIIE on executive function andmental health in young men with and without
    obesity. Methods: Ten men with obesity (OB) (age, 23.10 ± 3.31 yr; body mass index
    (BMI), 34.6 ± 4.4 kg·m−2) and 10 with normal weight (NW) (age, 23.50 ± 1.64 yr; BMI,
    23.1 ± 3.9 kg·m−2) underwent a single HIIE session. Outcomes were assessed at
    baseline, immediately after (AHS), 2 h after (AHS + 2), and 24 h after (AHS + 24) the HIIE
    session. Results: Interaction effects showed that executive function was impaired in
    theOBgroup,with an average increase in reaction time of 407.80ms(95% confidence
    interval (CI), 76.62–738.98 ms; P = 0.01) at AHS compared to baseline. Time effects
    were found for anxiety and depression scores at AHS + 2 for both groups compared
    to baseline (−2.75; 95% CI, −5.42 to −0.08; P = 0.04), and for anxiety scores at AHS
    (−2.55; 95% CI, −4.42 to −0.68; P = 0.004). Interaction effects were found for vigor
    scores at AHS + 2, with a decrease in vigor in the OB group and an increase in the
    NWgroup (P= 0.02). Conclusion: Although anxiety and depression symptoms are improved
    2 h after a HIIE session regardless of BMI category, individuals with obesity
    may present distinct results in executive function and vigor after a single HIIE bout.

Publication Date

  • 2024-10-01