The impact of 4-week high-intensity interval training on mental health and sleep quality in female college students with normal weight obesity: a randomized controlled trial

J Transl Med. 2025 Nov 6;23(1):1234. doi: 10.1186/s12967-025-07276-7.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Normal Weight obesity, characterized by normal-range body mass index accompanied by elevated adiposity, poses a potential health challenge among female college students. This demographic exhibits heightened susceptibility to psychological disturbances and sleep disorders. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) appears to have potential in managing metabolic dysregulation. However, its efficacy in improving mental health and sleep quality in individuals with normal weight obesity remains uncertain.

METHODS: This randomized controlled trial enrolled female college students (N = 35) who met the criteria for normal weight obesity, defined as a body mass index between 20 and 23 kg/m² and a body fat percentage greater than 30%. The intervention group (n = 17) participated in a 4-week HIIT protocol, consisting of five sessions per week at greater than 90% VO₂max, while the control group (n = 18) received standard health education. Validated instruments were utilized to assess depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and sleep quality (PSQI).

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2100050711 Registered 3 September 2021 Retrospectively registered, https//www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html? proj=132,914.

RESULTS: The HIIT intervention significantly reduced PHQ-9 scores from 5.8 ± 4.2 to 3.2 ± 2.7 (p < 0.01) and GAD-7 scores from 5.1 ± 5.3 to 2.8 ± 2.9 (p < 0.05), while also improving PSQI scores from 5.1 ± 3.4 to 3.5 ± 2.5 (p < 0.01). Post-intervention analyses revealed a strong correlation between sleep quality and levels of depression (R = 0.813, p < 0.001) and anxiety (R = 0.739, p < 0.001) in the HIIT group, whereas no significant change in sleep quality was observed among the control group.

CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the therapeutic efficacy of HIIT in improving psychological disturbances and sleep architecture in female students with normal weight obesity. It may serve as a time-efficient intervention. The observed correlation between sleep quality and psychological parameters warrants further investigation into the underlying mechanisms.

PMID:41199311 | DOI:10.1186/s12967-025-07276-7