The Combined Effects of High-Intensity Interval Exercise Training and Dietary Supplementation on Reduction of Body Fat in Adults with Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 16; no. 3; p. 355
• Main Authors: Gaweł, Eliza, Hall, Barbara, Siatkowski, Szymon, Grabowska, Agata, Zwierzchowska, Anna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Adults; Analysis; Bias; Body fat; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease; Diabetes; dietary supplementation; Dietary supplements; Exercise; Fitness training programs; Food and nutrition; Green tea; high-intensity interval exercise; Metabolism; Obesity; Overweight; Physical fitness; Physiological aspects; Systematic review; Training; Type 2 diabetes; Poland; high-intensity interval exercise; dietary supplementation; body fat
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu16030355

Excessive body fat is associated with various comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and certain types of cancer. The search for effective, relatively easy to maintain body-fat reduction interventions has been ongoing. We aimed to review the current literature to assess the effectiveness of high-intensity interval training with and without dietary supplementation on body fat loss, concentration of markers of metabolic health and aerobic capacity of adults with overweight and obesity. Seventy full-text articles were assessed to determine their eligibility and thirteen were included in the review. The methodology of this systematic review was developed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Almost all studies (93%) demonstrated effectiveness of high-intensity interval training of various protocols in reducing body fat, improving metabolic health and aerobic capacity of adults with overweight and obesity. These effects were enhanced by an addition of a dietary supplement, such as green tea or ginger or other. Although combining HIIT with dietary supplementation seem to improve body composition, metabolic health and aerobic capacity in adults with overweight and obesity in some instances to a greater extent than HIIT alone, it does not seem to be necessary to combine these two interventions.