Background: Obesity causes various changes in the biochemical parameters, such as inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress. Inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress are pathways in the pathogenesis of obesity into other diseases, such as metabolic syndrome. Thus, levels of inflammatory mediators such as Tumor Necrotic Factor (TNFα) and levels of oxidative stress such as malondialdehyde (MDA) can be parameters of obesity complications. Physical training such as Continuous Training (CT) is one of the most effective obesity therapies in improving body composition. Likewise, the High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is an alternative to CT. However, the benefits of training on the parameters of obesity complications have not been widely studied.

Purpose: To determine the effect of CT and HIIT on TNFα and MDA levels in obese women.

Methods: This study used a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) research design. The subjects were 56 people, divided into two intervention groups for CT and HIIT using block randomization. TNFα and MDA examinations were performed before and after the intervention using the ELISA method. Data were analyzed by univariate and bivariate. Bivariate analysis used paired T-test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, with a significance level of p<0.05.

Results: Subjects were divided into two intervention groups. A total of 26 obese women received CT intervention, and as many as 30 obese women received HIIT intervention. The bivariate analysis results showed no difference in MDA levels (p=0.913) and TNFα levels (p=0.191) before and after the intervention. There was also no difference in MDA levels (p=0.926) in the HIIT group before and after the intervention. However, there was a significant change in TNFα levels before and after the HIIT intervention (p=0.0001).

Conclusion: There is an effect of the HIIT model intervention program in obese women on TNFα levels.