PURPOSE: There is currently a consensus about the positive effects of physical exercise on cognition. However, the exercise intensity-dependent effect on executive function remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the acute effects of high-intensity aerobic interval training (HIIT), resistance training (RT), or combined training (RT+ HIIT) on the cognitive inhibition and attention capacity in overweight inactive men adults (age 18-30 years old). METHODS: Randomized, parallel-group clinical trial among 36 (23.6±3.5 years; 83.5±7.8 kg; 28.0±1.9 kg/m2), inactive men (i.e. <150 min of moderate-intensity exercise per week for greater than 6 months), with abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 90 cm) or body mass index ≥ 25 and ≤ 30 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to a HIIT (n=12), RT (n=7), RT+HIIT (n=7), and a control group (n=10) until the energy expenditure of 400-500 kcal. Cognitive inhibition and attention capacity were examined using Stroop Test and d2 Test of Attention respectively, before (pre) and 1-min post-exercise for each exercise training modalities. RESULTS: For cognitive inhibition, significant differences were observed in HIIT and RT+HIIT protocols for congruent and neutral conditions, and in HIIT, RT and RT+HIIT for incongruent condition. The largest effect size was identified in RT+HIIT for congruent condition (d=1.70). Regarding attention capacity, there were significant in RT+HIIT for concentration performance domain, and in RT and RT+HIIT with total performance. The largest effect size was found in RT+HIIT for concentration performance domain (d=1.23). CONCLUSIONS: Acute RT+HIIT session reported larger effect sizes than RT and HIIT alone for congruent condition. Combined exercise seems to favor acute benefit on executive function and could be particularly recommended in inactive overweight men. Overall, combined RT+HIIT seems to favor acute benefit on executive function in inactive overweight men. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02915913 (Date: September 22, 2016).