Background and Aim: Considering the uncertainties about associations between orexin-A and obesity, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of 8 weeks of endurance training and high intensity interval training ( HIIT) on plasma levels of orexin-A and some anthropometric parameters in obese adolescent boys.
Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental project 35 healthy, inactive and obese boys (mean age 15.5±0.69 years, mean body mass index (BMI) = 28.72±2.20, equal to or higher than the 95th percentile) were randomly divided into three groups of equal numbers, namely, control, endurance training, and HIIT. The endurance training and the HIIT group participated in eight weeks of endurance training (25-40 minutes running per day, with an intensity 65-85% Heart Rate Reserve) and eight weeks of HIIT (30 seconds running with an intensity 90-95% Heart Rate reserve, 4-7 repetitions a day and two minutes of a rest interval with 50-55% Heart Rate reserve), three days per week, respectively. Plasma levels of orexin A, anthropometric measurements (waist-to-hip ratio, body fat percentage and body mass index) and VO2 max were determined before and 48 hours after the last session of the training. Data were analyzed and are reported as mean ± SD using repeated measure ANOVA (p < 0.05).
Results : Despite a decreasing trend in the plasma orexin-A level in the control and HIIT groups and its rising trend in the endurance training group, no statistically significant differences were observed between the control and experimental groups (P>0.05). However, HIIT and endurance training caused significant reductions in the anthropometric parameters such as body fat percentage (8.7%, 9.7%), body mass index (1.6%, 1.9%) and waist to hip ratio (2.7%, 2.9%), accompanied by a significant increase in the VO2 max (6.7%, 10.9%) (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Endurance training is more effective than HIIT as regards improvement in body composition of obese adolescent boys, although the changes may not be in line with changes occurring in plasma orexin-A levels. It is recommended that more studies be conducted in this area, controlling sleep, nutrition and changes due to puberty, and with longer durations of exercise.
