The Roles of Psychophysiological Stress and Cognitive Markers on Perceptual Responses During Low-volume High-intensity Interval Exercise in Overweight-to-obese Adults

Outcome Measure: Height

Time Frame: Baseline only (Session 1)

Standing height will be measured using a stadiometer with participants barefoot and standing in the anatomical position. The value used for analysis will be the height recorded at baseline (Session 1).Unit of Measure: centimeters (cm)

Outcome Measure: Body Weight

Time Frame: Session 1 (Week 0), Session 15 (Week 5), Session 30 (Week 10)

Body weight will be measured using a calibrated digital scale with participants wearing light clothing and no shoes. The value used for analysis will be the body weight recorded at baseline (Session 1).Unit of Measure: kilograms (kg)

Outcome Measure: Body Mass Index (BMI)

Time Frame: Session 1 (Week 0), Session 15 (Week 5), Session 30 (Week 10)

BMI will be calculated using height and weight measured at baseline, using the formula BMI = weight (kg) / height (m²). The final reported value will be the BMI calculated at Session 1.Unit of Measure: kg/m²

Change in Affective Valence During Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Time Frame: Measured at every training session (Sessions 1-30) over 10 weeks; primary analysis compares Sessions 1, 15, and 30

Affective valence is assessed using the Feeling Scale (range -5 to +5) during each low-volume high-intensity interval exercise (Lv-HIIE) session, which consists of 6-10 cycles of 60 s shuttle running and 75 s active recovery. Affective valence is measured 5 minutes before exercise, 20 seconds before the end of warm-up, immediately after each 60-second work interval, and after cool-down during Sessions 1, 15, and 30. The reported value will be the mean change in Feeling Scale score from Session 1 to Session 30, with Session 15 serving as a mid-intervention reference time point.Feeling Scale score (-5 to +5)

Change in Felt Arousal During Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Time Frame: Measured at every training session (Sessions 1-30) over 10 weeks; primary analysis compares Sessions 1, 15, and 30

Felt arousal is assessed using the Felt Arousal Scale (range 1 to 6) during Lv-HIIE sessions (6-10 cycles of 60 s work + 75 s active recovery). Felt arousal is measured 5 minutes before exercise, 20 seconds before the end of warm-up, immediately after each 60-second work interval, and after cool-down during Sessions 1, 15, and 30. The reported value will be the mean change in Felt Arousal Scale score from Session 1 to Session 30, with Session 15 as a mid-intervention reference.Felt Arousal Scale score (1-6)

Change in Rating of Perceived Exertion During Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Time Frame: Measured at every training session (Sessions 1-30) over 10 weeks; primary analysis compares Sessions 1, 15, and 30

Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is measured using the Borg 6-20 scale during Lv-HIIE sessions (6-10 cycles of 60 s work + 75 s active recovery). RPE is recorded 5 minutes before exercise, 20 seconds before the end of warm-up, immediately after each 60-second work interval, and after cool-down during Sessions 1, 15, and 30. The reported value will be the mean change in RPE from Session 1 to Session 30, with Session 15 as a mid-intervention reference point.Borg RPE score (6-20)

Change in Perceived Recovery During Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Time Frame: Measured at every training session (Sessions 1-30) over 10 weeks; primary analysis compares Sessions 1, 15, and 30

Perceived recovery is assessed using the Perceived Recovery Scale (range 0 to 10) during Lv-HIIE sessions. It is measured immediately after each 75-second active recovery interval in every cycle during Sessions 1, 15, and 30. The reported value will be the mean change in Perceived Recovery Scale score from Session 1 to Session 30, with Session 15 as a mid-intervention reference.Perceived Recovery Scale score (0-10)

Change in Exercise Enjoyment During Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Time Frame: Measured at the end of Sessions 1, 15, and 30 over 10 weeks

Exercise enjoyment is assessed using a validated enjoyment scale (range 1 to 7) at the end of the Lv-HIIE session. Enjoyment is measured once at the end of Sessions 1, 15, and 30. The reported value will be the change in enjoyment score from Session 1 to Session 30, with Session 15 as a mid-intervention reference.Enjoyment scale score (total 126 scores)

Change in Heart Rate During Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Time Frame: Measured at every training session (Sessions 1-30) over 10 weeks; primary analysis compares Sessions 1, 15, and 30

Heart rate is measured continuously and summarized at specific time points (5 minutes before exercise, 20 seconds before the end of warm-up, immediately after each 60-second work interval, and after cool-down) during Lv-HIIE sessions (6-10 cycles of 60 s work + 75 s active recovery). Heart rate is recorded during Sessions 1, 15, and 30. The reported value will be the mean change in heart rate (beats per minute) from Session 1 to Session 30, with Session 15 as a mid-intervention reference.Beats per minute (bpm)

Change in Heart Rate Recovery During Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise

Time Frame: Measured at every training session (Sessions 1-30) over 10 weeks; primary analysis compares Sessions 1, 15, and 30

Heart rate recovery is assessed as heart rate measured immediately after each 75-second active recovery interval during Lv-HIIE sessions. Heart rate recovery is recorded for all cycles in Sessions 1, 15, and 30. The reported value will be the mean change in heart rate recovery (beats per minute during recovery periods) from Session 1 to Session 30, with Session 15 as a mid-intervention reference.Beats per minute (bpm)

Psychophysiological Stress (Blood Biomarkers)

Time Frame: Day 1 (Week 1, baseline), Day 15 (Week 5), and Day 30 (Week 10, final assessment), with samples collected pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 30 minutes post-exercise

Psychophysiological stress will be assessed using venous blood biomarkers. Blood samples will be collected at three predefined assessment days during the 10-week intervention: Day 1 (Week 1, baseline), Day 15 (Week 5), and Day 30 (Week 10, final assessment). At each assessment day, venous blood will be drawn at three standardized time points: Immediately before exercise (pre-exercise) Immediately after exercise (0 minutes post-exercise) 30 minutes post-exercise This results in nine total blood draws per participant. Biomarkers include cortisol, ACTH, and related stress markers. Changes will be compared across these assessment days.Concentration (pg/mL or ng/mL)

Goal Orientation in Exercise Measure (GOEM) Total Score

Time Frame: Baseline (Day 1, before the first training session)

Goal orientation will be assessed using the Goal Orientation in Exercise Measure (GOEM), a validated 10-item questionnaire scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5). Item scores are summed to produce a total GOEM score ranging from 0 to 50. The questionnaire is completed once at baseline, before the first training session, to characterize individual differences in goal-orientation tendencies that may influence perceptual and physiological responses during the intervention. The reported value will be the total GOEM score.Score range 0-50

Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRS) Total Score

Time Frame: Baseline (Day 1, before the first training session)

Psychological resilience will be assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRS), a validated resilience questionnaire producing a total score ranging from 0 to 100. The scale is administered once at baseline, prior to the first training session, to evaluate individual differences in resilience traits that may influence perceptual and physiological responses during the intervention. The reported value will be the total CDRS score.Score range 0-100