Energy balance
HIIT and MICT produce comparable changes in body composition, lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and blood pressure in patients with diabesity.
For weight loss, blood sugar control (HbA1c), and blood pressure, both HIIT and moderate steady-state exercise appear to work equally well for people with diabesity. You do not need to do HIIT to see improvements in these specific areas; moderate exercise is sufficient.
Other clinically relevant cardiometabolic outcomes, including body composition, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and blood pressure, showed comparable changes between HIIT and MICT.
Why this rating
Based on the same meta-analysis with 'very low certainty evidence'.
Source
Comparative effectiveness of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on cardiometabolic health in patients with diabesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Sameer Badri Al-Mhanna et al. · Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome · 2025
DOI 10.1186/s13098-025-01909-z
More from this paper
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly improves insulin sensitivity (fasting insulin and HOMA-IR) and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) compared to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in patients with diabesity.Limited
- In patients with diabesity who have comorbidities, HIIT may significantly increase HDL cholesterol and further reduce HOMA-IR compared to MICT.Limited
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