Author(s): ZHANG, B., ZHENG, C., SUN, F., Institution: THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, Country: HONG KONG, Abstract-ID: 1432

INTRODUCTION:
Combining physical activity and dietary intervention has been suggested to manage the body weight and cardiometabolic health. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of high-intensity circuit training (HICT) combining with one of the two popular dietary strategies, i.e., time-restricted eating (TRE) or Mediterranean diet (MED), on changes in body composition in women with overweight and obesity.
METHODS:
With a randomized controlled trial (RCT) study design, the current study recruited 100 women aged between 18-45 years and who were overweight (23.0 kg/m2 ≤ BMI < 25.0 kg/m2) or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). Participants were assigned to four groups: HICT group (HICT intervention only), HICT-TRE group (HICT plus a 16:8 method of TRE), HICT-MED group (HICT plus the MED intervention), and control group (without any intervention). Before and after the 12-week intervention, the body composition was assessed.
RESULTS:
Compared with the CON group, the intervention groups decrease the body weight (estimated mean differences, HICT-TRE: 2.44 kg; 95% CI, 1.30 to 3.58; p < 0.001; HICT-MED: 2.07; 95% CI, 0.96 to 3.17; p < 0.001; HICT: 1.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 2.78; p < 0.001), BMI (estimated mean differences, HICT-TRE: 0.87 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.44 to 1.29; p < 0.001; HICT-MED: 0.76 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.35 to 1.17; p < 0.001; HICT: 0.6; 95% CI, 0.18 to 1.01; p < 0.001), fat mass (estimated mean differences, HICT-TRE: 1.38 kg; 95% CI, 0.48 to 2.78; p < 0.001; HICT-MED: 1.42 kg; 95% CI, 0.54 to 2.30; p < 0.001; HICT: 1.21; 95% CI, 0.33 to 2.10; p = 0.002), waist circumference (estimated mean differences, HICT-TRE: 4.04 cm; 95% CI, 2.14 to 5.95; p < 0.001; HICT-MED: 4.36 cm; 95% CI, 2.50 to 6.22; p < 0.001; HICT: 3.53; 95% CI, 1.67 to 5.38; p < 0.001), hip circumference (estimated mean differences, HICT-TRE: 3.35 cm; 95% CI, 1.66 to 5.04; p < 0.001; HICT-MED: 2.11 cm; 95% CI, 0.46 to 3.77; p = 0.005), visceral fat rating (estimated mean differences, HICT-TRE: 0.64; 95% CI, 0.12 to 1.15; p = 0.007; HICT-MED: 0.80; 95% CI, 0.29 to 1.30; p < 0.001) significantly.
In addition, there were group differences at postintervention among intervention groups. Compared with the HICT group, HICT-TRE showed greater reduction on hip circumference (estimated mean differences, 1.88 cm; 95% CI, 0.21 to 3.54; p = 0.018), and HICT-MED showed decreased visceral fat rating (estimated mean differences, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.04 to 1.05; p = 0.026).
CONCLUSION:
The findings of this 12-week randomized controlled trial in overweight and obese women suggest that compared with the CON group, all three intervention groups had improvements body composition, whereas incorporating TRE and MED into HICT has extra beneficial effects on reduction of hip circumference in HICT-TRE group, and decreases of visceral fat ratingthe in HICT-MED group.
The study was supported by EdUHK Internal grant (RG 106/2024-2025R)