Impact of Digital School‐Based Personalized High‐Intensity Interval Training on Cardiorespiratory Fitness in French Adolescents: The METs ‐Up Programme
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a short school-based personalized interval training program (METs-Up) using a smartphone application on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in French adolescents. Secondary objective was to assess the effects of the program on body mass index (BMI). A total of 9021 adolescents (4428 boys and 4593 girls, age range: 10-14 years) were randomized to the experimental group (EXP) (n = 5845) or the control group (CON) (n = 3176). The EXP performed a personalized high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program ranging (95.5 to 102.5% dynamic maximal aerobic speed, MAS) integrated into physical education (PE) lessons over 6 weeks. HIIT consisted of approximately two 15-min sessions per week of high-intensity, intermittent-running exercises. The CON group followed conventional PE lessons. CRF (20-m Shuttle Run Test) and BMI were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, both groups showed significant improvements in CRF compared to baseline value (p < 0.05). The increase in the EXP group (13.7% in laps completed) was significantly higher than in the CON group (4.8%) (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant decrease in BMI was observed in the EXP (-0.8%), whereas no significant change was observed in the CON group. A short school-based personalized METs-Up HIIT program, utilizing an innovative smartphone application, significantly improved CRF in French adolescents, addressing the decline in CRF levels among youth.
DOI: 10.1111/sms.70141
Authors: Jérémy Vanhelst, Anne Le Cunuder, Martine Duclos, Daniel Mercier, François Carré
Institutions: Inserm, Université Paris Cité, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle, Centre de Recherche Épidémiologie et Statistique, Université Rennes 2, Laboratoire Mouvement Sport Santé, Université Clermont Auvergne, Unité de Nutrition Humaine, Université Grenoble Alpes, Laboratoire Traitement du Signal et de l'Image, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Université de Rennes
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4414586983