High-intensity interval training vs. yoga in improving binge eating and physical fitness in inactive young females

Yoga is effective in binge eating disorder (BED) treatment, but it does not seem effective enough to improve low physical fitness. In contrast, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is effective in improving physical fitness but has never been studied in the context of BED. In the study, 47 young inactive females with mild to moderate BED were recruited and randomly assigned to a HIIT group (HIIT), a Yoga group (YG), or a control group (CG; age, 19.47 +/- 0.74, 19.69 +/- 0.874, and 19.44 +/- 0.63 years; BMI, 21.07 +/- 1.66, 21.95 +/- 2.67, and 20.68 +/- 2.61 kg/m2, respectively). The intervention groups participated in 8-week specific exercises, while the CG maintained their usual daily activity. Before and after the training, participants were evaluated for BED using the binge eating scale (BES) and for physical fitness. The obtained data were compared within groups and between groups, and a correlation analysis between BES and physical fitness parameters was performed. After the training, the YG presented significant improvements in BES (- 20.25%, p = 0.006, eta p2 = 0.408), fat mass (FM, - 3.13%, p = 0.033, eta p2 = 0.269), and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max, 11.51%, p = 0.000, eta p2 = 0.601), whereas the HIIT showed significant improvements in body weight (BW, - 1.78%, p = 0.006, eta p2 = 0.433), FM (- 3.94%, p = 0.033, eta p2 = 0.285), and BMI (- 1.80%, p = 0.006, eta p2 = 0.428), but not in BES. Comparisons between groups revealed that both HIIT and YG had significantly higher VO2max levels than CG (HIIT 12.82%, p = 0.006, eta p2 = 0.088; YG: 11.90%, p = 0.009, eta p2 = 0.088) with no difference between HIIT and YG. Additionally, YG presented significantly lower BES than both HIIT (15.45%, p = 0.02, eta p2 = 0.03) and CG (11.91%, p = 0.022, eta p2 = 0.03). In conclusion, Yoga is an effective treatment for BED, but HIIT is not, despite its high efficacy in improving physical fitness.