Table 3. Characteristics of participants and exercises.

Source, year	Sample size; sex; allocation	Age (BMI kg/m2)	HIIT mode	Intervention protocol (HIIT or SIT vs. MICT and CON)	Outcomes
Abassi et al. (2022)	28 overweight and obesity; females; RCT	HIIT:16.4±1.0; (32.6±3.6) CON:16.4±1.0; (33.2±5.7)	SIT	HIIT: 2 × six to eight sets of 30-s at 100-110% of maximal aerobic speed by 30-s recovery at 50% of maximal aerobic speed; 12 weeks treadmill running; supervised 3 d/week. CON: without any structure program	SBP, DBP
Ahmadi et al. (2020)	60 overweight and obesity; males and females; RCT	HIIT:14.6±2.6; (30.0±5.2) CON:12.7±2.6; (28.5±6.0)	HIIT	HIIT: 30-min body weight training by 20-s rest intervals between each item; 8 weeks body weight; supervised 3 d/week. CON: without any structure program	TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Boer et al. (2014)	36 intellectual disabilities with overweight and obesity; males and females; RCT	HIIT:18.0±3.2; (28.4±4.7) CON:17.4±2.4; (26.9±3.2)	SIT	HIIT: ten sets of 15-s at all-out effort by 45-s recovery +10 min continuous training + ten sets of 15-s at all-out effort by 45-s recovery; 15 weeks cycling/running; supervised 2 d/week. CON: participated in usual everyday scholar activities without supervised exercise training	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, SBP, DBP, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Chuensiri et al. (2018)	48 overweight and obesity; males and females; RCT	HIIT1:11.0±1.0; (24.2±3.3) HIIT2:11.1±0.8; (26.5±3.5) CON:10.6±1.0; (26.1±3.3)	SIT & HIIT	HIIT1: eight sets of 2-min at 90% of peak power output by 1-min recovery. HIIT2: eight sets of 20-s at 170% of peak power output by 10-s recovery; 12 weeks cycling; supervised 3 d/week CON: without any structure program	SBP, DBP, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Cvetkovic et al. (2018)	28 overweight and obesity; males; RCT	HIIT:11.0-13.0; (26.6±3.4) CON:11.0-13.0; (25.3±4.8)	SIT	HIIT: 3 × five to ten sets of 10-20-s 100% of maximal aerobic speed by 3-min recovery; 12 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week. CON: their normal physical education classes	SBP, DBP
Delgado-Floody et al. (2018)	179 overweight and obesity; males and females; NRCT	HIIT:8.4±1.2; (19.6-23.4) CON:8.4±1.2; (19.3-23.7)	HIIT	HIIT: four to five sets of 4-6-min at 80-95% of HRmax by 1-2-min recovery, and running, jumping, throwing 30-60-s by 30-60-s recovery; 28 weeks running; supervised 2 d/week CON: 35-min class with group relay exercises, pre-sports games, dances, and coordination exercises	SBP, DBP
Dias et al. (2018)	67 overweight and obesity; males and females; RCT	HIIT:7.0-16.0; (28.8±3.8) CON:7.0-16.0; (29.6±4.3)	HIIT	HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85-95% of HRmax by 3-min recovery at 50-70% of HRmax; 12 weeks cycling; supervised 3 d/week CON: nutrition advice only	Glucose, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Espinoza Silva et al. (2023)	443 overweight and obesity; males and females; NRCT	HIIT:6.4±0.6; (20.3±2.8) CON:6.3±0.7; (16.2±0.9)	HIIT	HIIT: 30-s high intensity activities by 1-min recovery until 15-20 min; three to four sets of 4-min activities by 1-2 recovery; 28 weeks activities; supervised 2 d/week CON: their normal physical education classes based on the national curriculum	SBP, DBP
Espinoza-Silva et al. (2019)	274 overweight and obesity; males and females; NRCT	HIIT:8.1±1.5; (22.7±3.2) CON:8.1±1.5; (22.7±3.2)	HIIT	HIIT: 30-60-s high intensity activities at a rating of 8-10 BRPE by 1-min recovery until 15-20 min; three to four sets of 4-min activities by 1-2 recovery; 28 weeks activities; supervised 2 d/week CON: performed the traditional activities of the official physical education program	SBP, DBP
Ketelhut et al. (2020)	46 normal weights; males and females; RCT	HIIT:10.8±0.6; (19.6±4.6) CON:10.7±0.7; (19.7±4.0)	SIT	HIIT: 2 × 6-min blocks including 20-120-s at maximal efforts by 30-90-s recovery; 12 weeks running; supervised 2 d/week CON: maintained daily activities	SBP, DBP
Khaliltahmasebi et al. (2022)	38 overweight and obesity; males; RCT	HIIT:12.0±1.0; (26.2±2.3) CON:12.0±1.0; (26.2±2.5)	SIT	HIIT: 2-4 × five sets of 30-s at 85-100% of maximal aerobic speed by 30-s recovery at 50% of maximal aerobic speed; 12 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintained daily activities	TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Kranen et al. (2023)	19 normal weights; males; RCT	HIIT:13.3±0.6; (17.4±0.9) CON:13.3±0.5; (18.6±2.5)	HIIT	HIIT: eight sets of 1-min at 90% of maximal aerobic speed by 75-s recovery; 4 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintained daily activities	Glucose, insulin, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Martin et al. (2015)	49 normal weights; males and females; RCT	HIIT:16.9±0.4; (22.2±2.3) CON:16.8±0.5; (22.3±3.2)	SIT	HIIT: four to six sprints by 30-s recovery; 7 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: standard physical education	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR
Martínez-Vizcaíno et al. (2022)	562 normal, overweight and obesity; males and females; RCT	HIITgirl:10.0±0.7; (18.5±3.8) HIITboy:9.9±0.7; (18.5±3.8) CONgirl:10.0±0.7; (17.9±3.6) CONboy:10.1±0.7; (17.9±3.6)	HIIT	HIIT: four sets of 4-min traditional games at 85-90% of HRmax by 3-min recovery at 65-75% of HRmax; 12 months playground games; supervised 4 d/week CON: continued with their standard physical education curriculum throughout the intervention period	Glucose, SBP, DBP, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Meng et al. (2022)	30 overweight and obesity; males; RCT	HIIT:11.4±0.8; (24.5±1.1) CON:11.0±0.7; (23.8±0.8)	SIT	HIIT: eight sets of 15-s at 90-100% of maximal aerobic speed by 15-s recovery at 50% of maximal aerobic speed; 12 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintained daily activities	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, SBP, DBP, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
McNarry et al. (2021)	69 normal weight healthy and asthma; males and females; RCT	HIIT:13.6±0.9; (21.1±3.3) CON:13.6±0.9; (21.1±3.3)	HIIT	HIIT: 10-30 s activities over 90% of HRmax by 10-30 s recovery; 6 months circuits and game-based activities; supervised 3 d/week CON: engaged in their usual day-to-day activities	SBP, DBP, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Oliveira et al. (2021)	19 normal weights; males; RCT	HIIT:13.3±0.5; (ND) CON:13.2±0.5; (ND)	HIIT	HIIT: eight to twelve sets of 1-min at 90% of maximal aerobic speed by 75-s recovery; 4 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintained daily activities	SBP, DBP
Paahoo et al. (2021)	30 overweight and obesity; males; RCT	HIIT:11.1±1.0; (25.3±1.0) CON:11.2±0.9; (25.0±1.9)	SIT	HIIT: 3 × ten sets of 10-s 100-110% of maximal aerobic speed by 3-min recovery; 12 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: without any structure program	TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Plavsic et al. (2020)	44 overweight and obesity; females; RCT	HIIT:16.2±1.3; (32.6±2.7) CON:15.5±1.5; (33.2±3.5)	HIIT	HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 85-90% of HRmax by 3-min recovery at 70% of HRmax and they were instructed to reduce their caloric intake; 12 weeks uphill treadmill walking/running; supervised 2 d/week CON: they were instructed to reduce their caloric intake	HOMA-IR, SBP, DBP, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Racil et al. (2013)	23 overweight and obesity; females; RCT	HIIT:15.6±0.7; (2.9±0.2) CON:15.9±1.2; (2.9±0.2) (Z-score)	SIT	HIIT: 2 × six to eight sets of 30-s at 100-110% of maximal aerobic speed by 30-s recovery at 50% of maximal aerobic speed; 12 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: without any structure program	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Racil et al. (2016a)	31 overweight and obesity; females; RCT	HIIT:14.2±1.2; (3.4±0.4) CON:14.2±1.2; (3.3±0.5) (Z-score)	SIT	HIIT: 15-s at 100% of maximal aerobic speed by 15-s recovery at 50% of maximal aerobic speed until 4-8 min; 12 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week recovery at 50% of maximal aerobic speed until 4-8 min CON: without any structure program	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, SBP, DBP
Racil et al. (2016b)	42 overweight and obesity; females; RCT	HIIT:16.6±1.3; (2.6±0.2) CON:16.6±1.3; (2.6±0.2) (Z-score)	SIT	HIIT: 2 × six to eight sets of 30-s at 100% velocity at VO2peak by 30-s recovery at 50% velocity at VO2peak; 12 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: without any structure program	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR
Rosenkranz et al. (2012)	16 normal weights; males and females; RCT	HIIT:8.6±0.6; (19.5±5.3) CON:9.6±1.4; (18.3±2.2)	SIT	HIIT: 4 × five to ten sets of 10-20-s at 100-130% maximal aerobic speed by 10-20-s recovery; 8 weeks running; supervised 2 d/week CON: without any structure program	Glucose, SBP, DBP, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Salus et al. (2022a)	37 overweight and obesity; males; NRCT	HIIT:13.1H1.7; (30.3±3.2) CON:13.7:1.6; (32.6±5.9)	SIT	HIIT: four to six sets of 30-s sprint by 4-min recovery; 12 weeks cycling; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintained their habitual lifestyle	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, TG, HDL, TC, LDL
Salus et al. (2022b)	37 overweight and obesity; males; NRCT	HIIT:13.1H1.7; (30.3±3.2) CON:13.7:1.6; (32.6±5.9)	SIT	HIIT: four to six sets of 30-s sprint by 4-min recovery; 12 weeks cycling; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintained their habitual lifestyle	SBP, DBP
Tadiotto et al. (2023)	37 overweights; males and females; NRCT	HIIT:11-16; (2.4±1.0) CON:11-16; (2.1±0.8) (Z-score)	SIT	HIIT: 3 × four sets of 30-s at 80-100% of HRR by 1-min recovery; 12 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintain their usual activities	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, SBP, DBP, TG, TC, LDL, HDL
Tas et al. (2023)	42 overweight and obesity; males and females; RCT	HIIT:15.2H1.5; (36.9±6.0) CON:15.4:1.0; (34.9±5.9)	HIIT	HIIT: ten sets of 1-min at 80-90% of HRmax by 2-min recovery; 4 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintain their usual activities	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, HDL, LDL, TG, TC
Taylor et al. (2019)	30 overweight and obesity with Serious mental illness; males and females; NRCT	HIIT:16.1±1.3; (26.0±7.0) CON:15.9±1.1; (25.4±5.5)	SIT	HIIT: four sets of 30-s at maximal cycling sprints by 4-min recovery; 8 weeks cycling; supervised 3 d/week CON: Treatment included medication, psychiatry sessions, art/music therapy, and group talk-therapy	SBP, DBP
Tjønna et al. (2009)	54 overweight and obesity; males and females; RCT	HIIT:13.9±0.3; (33.2±6.1) CON:14.2±0.3; (33.3±4.5)	HIIT	HIIT: four sets of 4-min at 90-90% of HRmax by 3-min recovery at 70% of HRmax; 12 months running; supervised 2 d/week CON: exercise, dietary and psychological advice, twice a month	Glucose, insulin, SBP, DBP, TG, HDL
van Biljon et al. (2018)	58 normal weights; males and females; NRCT	HIIT:11.1±0.8; (18.5±3.2) CON:11.1±0.8; (20.3±3.7)	HIIT	HIIT: ten sets of 1-min over 80% of HRmax by 75-s recovery under 70% of HRmax; 5 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: was not exposed to any exercise intervention	Glucose, insulin, SBP, DBP,
Williams et al. (2022)	20 normal weights; females; RCT	HIIT:11.8±0.2; (17.8±2.2) CON:11.6±0.4; (18.5±3.0)	SIT	HIIT: six to eight sets of 10-s sprint by 50-s recovery; 2 weeks running; supervised 3 d/week CON: maintained their habitual lifestyle	Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR

Abbreviations: HIIT (high intensity interval training), MICT (moderate intensity continuous training), CON (control), VO_2max/peak (maximal or peak oxygen uptake), HR_max/peak (maximal or peak heart rate), HOMA-IR (homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance), SBP (systolic blood pressure), DBP (systolic blood pressure), TG (triglyceride), TC (total cholesterol), LDL (low density lipoprotein), HDL (high density lipoprotein), NRCT (nonrandomized controlled trial), RCT (randomized controlled trial), ND (not-defined)