Findings from this study, suggest that HIT is an effective strategy to enhance measures of physical fitness in adolescent
cohorts. Nonetheless, questions remain concerning the role of HIT as an effective alternative for health and
well-being over more traditional endurance based exercise recommendations. Our studies have used apparently
healthy adolescent cohorts but limited evidence exists concerning the use of HIT in individuals who have, or in
risk of, clinical disorders such as CVD, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance and obesity. Furthermore, the majority of
HIT interventions have only been conducted over a relatively short period of time (i.e. several weeks). Whether
HIT interventions can be implemented over an extended period of time (i.e. months to years) is at present unclear.
Whilst we hope that our findings will stimulate further research related to the role of field based HIT in a variety
of different populations, attention should also be given to identifying the optimal combination of exercise intensity
and volume needed to induce favourable adaptation in the most time efficient manner. Further work that considers
these issues whilst extending our initial work in a larger cohort of school children, taken from different schools within
a clustered randomized controlled trial, will help provide evidence based recommendations for a variety of populations
that may confirm the use of HIT as an alternative physical activity strategy.