Prescribing exercise based on critical power is an effective way to control weight in adults with overweight or obesity: a scoping review

Background: Obesity is considered one of the chronic diseases associated with an increased risk of mortality and morbidity. Nowadays, exercise is considered one of the most effective treatments for it. In recent years, various studies have been carried out to find the most effective exercise prescription. Objective The aim of this scoping review is to answer the question of whether increasing the intensity of exercise is an effective solution to weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity. Method systematic reviews and Meta-analyses from 2017 to 2022 investigated high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in adults (18–65 years old) with obesity or overweight included. The expected outcomes were weight, body mass index (BMI), and total and abdominal fat mass. Results A total of four systematic reviews which included 165 RCT and 4427 participants were included. Long term-HIIT was effective in decreasing body weight, body mass index (BMI), and total and abdominal fat mass. Conclusion HIIT is a time-efficient exercise prescription to reduce weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), and total and abdominal fat mass, however, the outcomes were similar and no significant differences were found compared to moderate intensity continuous training (MICT). The lack of time can be compensated for by increasing the intensity, but this is not the most effective option with the most effects, so according to the physiology of exercise, perhaps the most effective solution for losing weight is to prescribe exercises tailored to each person's physiology and based on critical power.