Table 1 Summary of the articles reviewed for individuals with overweight and obesity (n = 11) with an overview of the participant characteristics, exercise protocol, exercise supervision, outcome variables, equipment used, and the main findings related to vascular functions.

Farahati et al. [36]

33 women who are inactive and overweight

85%–95% HR_max, 4 × 4 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 12 WK

60%–70% HR_max Treadmill Walking, 47 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 12 WK

Supervised

Carotid IMT (mm)

Doppler ultrasound, M-Turbo, Sonosite America

MICT ↔ HIIT ↔ control ↔

HIIT (n = 10); 42.8 ± 2.69 yrs; 29.2 ± 2.28 kg/m²

Overall ABI

Doppler ultrasound, M-Turbo, Sonosite America

MICT ↔ HIIT ↔ control ↔

MICT (n = 11); 43.9 ± 3.8 yrs; 30.79 ± 2.79 kg/m²

Right ABI

Doppler ultrasound, M-Turbo, Sonosite America

MICT↔ HIIT↑15%* control ↔

Control (n = 9); 44.22 ± 3.63 yrs; 31.63 ± 3.97 kg/m²

Left ABI

Doppler ultrasound, M-Turbo, Sonosite America

MICT↔ HIIT↔ Control↔

Tucker et al. [35]

28 men who are overweight and obese

90%–95% HR_max Cycling, 8–11 × 1 min, 4 S W⁻¹, 4 WK

50% VO₂ max cycling, 30–40 min, 4 S W⁻¹, 4 WK

Supervised

FMD

Terason t3000CV Ultrasound, Terason, Burlington, MA

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CON↔

HIIT (n = 10); 30 ± 7 yrs; 96.0 ± 7.7 kg; 30.2 ± 3 kg/m²

Baseline diameter

Terason t3000CV Ultrasound, Terason, Burlington, MA

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CON↔

MICT (n = 9); 29 ± 7 yrs; 94.5 ± 18.6 kg; 29.7 ± 4.5 kg/m²

Peak diameter

Terason t3000CV Ultrasound, Terason, Burlington, MA

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CON↔

Control (n = 9); 28 ± 9 yrs; 93.1 ± 11.8 kg; 29.6 ± 3.9 kg/m²

Peak shear stress

Terason t3000CV Ultrasound, Terason, Burlington, MA

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CON↔

Mean blood velocity

Terason t3000CV Ultrasound, Terason, Burlington, MA

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CON↔

Baekkerud et al. [34]

30 overweight and obese

Supervised

Venous compliance

4HIIT↔ 1 HIIT↔ MICT↔

4HIIT (n = 12); 39 ± 10 yr; 91.7 ± 17.4 kg; BMI, 31.4 ± 5.3 kg/m²

85%–95% HR_max Treadmill walking, 4 × 4 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 6 WK

70% HR_max Steady state running/walking, 45 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 6 WK

Peak venous outflow

14-MHz Doppler probe, Vivid 7 System; GE Vingmed Ultrasound, Horten, Norway

4HIIT↔ 1 HIIT↔ MICT↓22.7%

1HIIT (n = 9); 45 ± 8 yr; 91.1 ± 10.1 kg; 30.8 ± kg/m²

90% HR_max, 10 × 1 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 6 WK

Arterial inflow

14-MHz Doppler probe, Vivid 7 System; GE Vingmed Ultrasound, Horten, Norway

4HIIT↔ 1 HIIT↔ MICT↓ 15.7%

MICT (n = 9) 41 ± 10 yr; 89.5 ± 12.4 kg; 29 ± 2.7 kg/m²

FMD

14-MHz Doppler probe, Vivid 7 System; GE Vingmed Ultrasound, Horten, Norway

4HIIT↔ 1 HIIT↔ MICT↔

Shepherd et al. [29]

90 individuals who are healthy, inactive and overweight

>90% HRmax Sprints, 15–60 s, 18–25 min, 5 S WK⁻¹, 10 WK

~70% HRmax Cycling, 30 min (WK 1)–45 min (WK 10), 5 S WK⁻¹, 10 WK

3 supervised 2 unsupervised

AIx@75bpm

–

HIIT↔ MICT↔

HIT (n = 46); 42 ± 11 yrs; 78.8 ± 18.3 kgs; 27.7 ± 5.0 kg/m²

MICT (n = 44); 43 ± 11 yrs; 77.5 ± 15.8 kgs; 27.7 ± 4.6 kg/m²

Shenouda et al. [23]

27 men who are sedentary, overweight

All out cycling sprints against 5.0% body weight, 3× 20 s, 30 S, 12 WK

70% HRmax Cycling, 45 min, 30 S, 12 WK

Supervised

Brachial artery diameter (BAD)

Artery Measurement System (AMS) II, version 1.141; Gothenburg, Sweden

Resting BAD HIIT↑0.5% MICT↑8% Control ↑3%

HIIT (n = 9); 27 ± 7 yrs; 84 ± 23 kg; 27 ± 5 kg/m²

FMD

Doppler ultrasounds (Vivid Q; GE Medical Systems, Horten, Norway)

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CNT ↔

MICT (n = 10); 28 ± 9 yrs; 84 ± 20 kg; 26 ± 6 kg/m²

Popliteal artery diameter

Artery Measurement System (AMS) II, version 1.141; Gothenburg, Sweden

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CNT↔

Control (n = 6); 26 ± 8 yrs; 78 ± 25 kg; 25 ± 7 kg/m²

FMD

Doppler ultrasounds (Vivid Q; GE Medical Systems, Horten, Norway)

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CNT↔

Carotid distensibility

Doppler ultrasound (Vivid Q, GE Medical Systems) & applanation tonometry (model SPT-301, Millar Instruments, Houston, TX)

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CNT↔

PWV

Applanation tonometry (Mikro-Tip Catheter Transducer, model SPT-301; Millar Instruments)

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CNT↔

Chin et al. [22]

56 men who are overweight; 18–30 yrs; 26.4 ± 2.9 kg/m²

HIIT 3 (n = 14)

90% HRR 30-m Shuttle run, 12 × 1 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 8 WK

60% HRR running, 30 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 8 WK

Supervised

LnRHI

EndoPAT 2000 (ITAMAR Medical, Caesarea, Israel)

HIIT 3↔ HIIT2↔ HIIT 1↔ MICT↔

HIIT 2 (n = 10)

90% HRR 30-m Shuttle run, 12 × 1 min, 2 S WK⁻¹, 8 WK

AIx@75

EndoPAT 2000 (ITAMAR Medical, Caesarea, Israel)

HIIT 3↔ HIIT2↔ HIIT 1↔ MICT↔

HIIT 1 (n = 9)

90% HRR 30-m Shuttle run, 12 × 1 min, 1 S WK⁻¹, 8 WK

MICT (n = 9)

Control (n = 14)

Cheema et al. [30]

12 adults with BMI >25 kg/m²

>75% HRmax, RPE of 15-17/20 Boxing, 4 S × 50 min WK⁻¹, 12 WK

Brisk Walking, 4 S × 50 min WK⁻¹, 12 WK

HIIT: Supervised MICT: unsupervised

AIx

SphygmoCor System (AtCor Medical Pty, Sydney, Australia)

HIIT ↓126.7%* MICT ↔

HIIT (n = 6); 43 yrs; 95.7 kg; 32.0 kg/m²

Pulse pressure

Fidelity tonometer (Millar Instruments, Houston, Texas)

HIIT ↔ MICT ↔

MICT (n = 6); 36 yrs; 85.6 kg; 30.8 kg/m²

Cocks et al. [31]

16 men who are sedentary and obese

200% Wmax Cycling, 1–3 S 4 reps, ↑1 rep every 3 S, 3 S WK⁻¹, 4 WK

̴65% VO2 peak Cycling, 1–7 S 40 min, 8–14 S 50 min, 15–20 S 60 min, 5 S WK⁻¹, 4 WK

Supervised

AIx

SphygmoCor, AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia

HIIT↓* MICT↓*

HIIT (n = 8); 24 ± 2 yrs; 110 ± 5 kg; 35.8 ± 0.8 kg/m²

cPWV

SphygmoCor, AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia

HIIT↓* MICT↓*

MICT (n = 8); 26 ± 2 yrs; 113 ± 6 kg; 33.7 ± 1.5 kg/m²

pPWV

SphygmoCor, AtCor Medical, Sydney, Australia

HIIT↔ MICT↔

Sawyer et al. [19]

18 adults who are obese M(18–45 yrs); F(18–55 yrs)

90%–95% HRmax Cycling, 10 × 1-min, 24 S:3 S WK⁻¹, 8 WK

70–75% HRmax Cycling, 30 min, 24 S:3 S WK⁻¹, 8 WK

Supervised

Preocclusion baseline diameter

Terason t3000 high resolution (Terason Ultrasound, Burlington, MA)

HIIT ↔ MICT ↑4.9%*

HIIT (n =9); 37.4 ± 6.2 kg/m²

Postocclusion peak diameter

Terason t3000 high resolution (Terason Ultrasound, Burlington, MA)

HIIT ↑5%* MICT ↔

MICT (n = 9); 34.5 ± 3.2 kg/m²

Flow-mediated dilation

Terason t3000 high resolution (Terason Ultrasound, Burlington, MA)

HIIT ↑*3.8% MICT ↔

Shear rate area under the curve

Terason t3000 high resolution (Terason Ultrasound, Burlington, MA)

HIIT ↓28%* MICT ↔

Average velocity, cm/s

Terason t3000 high resolution (Terason Ultrasound, Burlington, MA)

HIIT ↓23%* MICT ↔

Average diameter, mm

Terason t3000 high resolution (Terason Ultrasound, Burlington, MA)

HIIT ↑4.8%* MICT ↔

Schjerve et al. [32]

40 adults who are obese

85%–95% HRmax, 4 × 4 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 12 WK

60–70% HRmax Walking, 40 min, 3 S WK⁻¹, 12 WK

2 supervised 1 unsupervised

Flow-mediated dilation

High-resolution vascular ultrasound 14MHz echo Doppler probe; Vivid 7 system; GE Vingmed Ultrasound

HIIT greater ↑* MICT↑* ST↑*

HIIT (n = 14); 46.9 ± 2.2 yrs; 114.0 ± 5.7 kg; 36.6 ± 1.2 kg/m²

BA baseline diameter

HIIT↔ MICT↔ ST↔

MICT (n = 13); 44.4 ± 2.1 yrs; 104.1 ± 4.5 kg; 36.7 ± 1.4 kg/m²

BA Shear rate

HIIT↔ MICT↔ ST↔

ST (n = 13); 46.2 ± 2.9 yrs; 98.8 ± 4.5 kg; 34.5 ± 1.4 kg/m²

90% 1RM leg press, 4 × 5 reps, Abdominal and Back Ex 3 × 30 reps, 3 S WK⁻¹, 12 WK

Peak NTG diameter

HIIT↔ MICT↔ ST↔

Shi et al. [33]

52 adults who are obese 18–22 years, ≥30 kg/m²

80%–95% HRmax Ex, WK 1–2: 40 s, 25 min Ex, WK 3–5: 60 s 35 min Ex, WK 6–8: 60 s 45 min EX, 3–4 S WK⁻¹, 8 WK

60%–70% HRmax Ex, 45 min, 3–4 S WK⁻¹, 8 WK

Supervised

Blood volume

Doppler ultrasound (Prosound Alpha 7, Aloka, Japan)

HIIT ↑11.5%* MICT ↑18.1%* CON ↔

HIIT (n = 21)

Flow rate

Doppler ultrasound (Prosound Alpha 7, Aloka, Japan)

HIIT↔ MICT↔ CON↔

MICT (n = 22)

Wall shear stress

Doppler ultrasound (Prosound Alpha 7, Aloka, Japan)

HIIT ↑21.6%* MICT ↑16.9%* CON ↔

Control (n = 9)

OSI

Doppler ultrasound (Prosound Alpha 7, Aloka, Japan)

HIIT ↓* MICT ↔ CON ↔

Arterial diameter

Doppler ultrasound (Prosound Alpha 7, Aloka, Japan)

HIIT ↓6%* MICT ↔ CON ↔

Arterial stiffness

Doppler ultrasound (Prosound Alpha 7, Aloka, Japan)

HIIT ↓18.8%* MICT ↔ CON ↔

Circumferential strain

Doppler ultrasound (Prosound Alpha 7, Aloka, Japan)

HIIT ↑18.1%* MICT ↔ CON ↔

Pulsatility index

Doppler ultrasound (Prosound Alpha 7, Aloka, Japan)

HIIT ↓7%* MICT ↔ CON ↔