Effects of Low-Volume, High-Intensity Interval Training Compared with Continuous Training on Regional and Global Body Composition in Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: A post hoc Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of low-volume, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on body composition in adults with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of the randomized clinical trial Intraining-MET. Sixty adults (40–60 years old) were randomized to an MICT (n = 31) or HIIT (n = 29) supervised programme 3 days/week for 12 weeks. MICT sessions were conducted for 36 min at 60% of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). HIIT sessions included 6 intervals at 90% VO2peak for 1 min, followed by 2 min at 50% VO2peak. Body composition was assessed with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Body weight did not change from pre- to post-training in either MICT (78.9 ± 15.6 kg; 77.7 ± 16.5 kg, p = 0.280) or HIIT groups (76.3 ± 13.4 kg; 76.3 ± 13.7 kg, p = 0.964). Body fat percentage and fat mass (FM) decreased post-training in the MICT (−0.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.27 to −1.47 and −0.7 kg; 95% CI: −0.12 to −1.30) and HIIT groups (−1.0%; 95% CI: −0.32 to −1.68 and −0.8 kg; 95% CI: −0.17 to −1.47). Compared to the HIIT programme, MICT significantly reduced android FM (−0.14 kg; 95% CI: −0.02 to −0.26). Lean mass (LM) increased post-training in MICT (+0.7 kg; 95% CI: 0.01–1.41) and HIIT groups (+0.9 kg; 95% CI: 0.12–1.64), but only HIIT increased the trunk LM (+0.6 kg; 95% CI: 0.06–1.20). Conclusions: Both MICT and HIIT reduced FM without changing body weight in adults with MS. MICT had additional benefits by reducing the android FM, whereas HIIT seemed to increase LM. Given the characteristics of the post hoc analysis, further research is required to confirm these results.

Differential Effects of Very-Low-Volume Exercise Modalities on Telomere Length, Inflammation, and Cardiometabolic Health in Obese Metabolic Syndrome Patients: A Subanalysis from Two Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Apart from beneficial effects on TL, LV-HIIT also evoked favourable changes in VO 2max (2.9 mL/kg/min) and several cardiometabolic risk indices, including blood pressure (−10 mmHg SBP and −6 mmHg DBP, respectively), WC (−6 cm), and MetS z-score (−1.8 units), which can all be considered to have a clinically relevant impact [126][127][128]. These findings are in accordance with previous studies [33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44], indicating a robust effect of LV-HIIT on cardiometabolic health status. In this context, it is also noteworthy to emphasize that the changes in TL, inflammation, and cardiometabolic risk outcomes were irrespective of sex, age, and educational level.…”

“…Among these, very-low-volume high-intensity interval training (LV-HIIT) [29,30], oneset resistance training (1-RT) [31], and whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) [32] have received particular attention during the last years due to their exceptional timeefficiency. Research from our laboratory and other groups has demonstrated that lowvolume exercise approaches can provide several important health benefits to clinical populations, including improved cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) [33][34][35][36][37][38][39], blood pressure (BP) [33][34][35][36][37]40,41], glycaemic control [34,[37][38][39][40]42,43], liver health [37,38], inflammation status [33], body composition [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][39][40][41][43][44][45], and self-reported quality of life [35,36,41]. Notably, it was observed that very-low-volume exercise modalities differed in their beneficial effects on various physiol...…”

Efficacy of high-intensity interval training versus continuous training on serum myonectin and lipid outcomes in adults with metabolic syndrome: A post-hoc analysis of a clinical trial

“…For this study, AFMI ([arms FM (kg) + legs FM (kg)]/height (m) 2 ) and ALM ([appendicular lean mass (kg)/total body mass (kg)] x 100) were considered relevant, because they are associated with an elevated risk of cardiometabolic diseases, disability, and mortality [ 36 , 37 ]. These appendicular measurements complement our recent report in the same population comparing the effect of HIIT vs MICT on depots of global (total fat mass, fat percentage) and central (android, visceral, gynoid) fat [ 8 ].…”

Intravoxel incoherent motion imaging to assess the acute effects of moderate‐intensity continuous training and high‐intensity interval training on thigh muscles

“…Exercise is an integral component of the management of obesity that has received unprecedented attention. High‐intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate‐intensity continuous training (MICT) are two common forms of fat reduction; however, current evidence on the fat‐reduction effects of MICT and HIIT is controversial 3–7 . For example, Dupuit et al 6 reported that, compared with the MICT intervention, an 8‐week HIIT was more effective in reducing abdominal/visceral fat mass, while Keating et al 3 found significant fat loss in previously inactive overweight adults following a 12‐week MICT intervention, but not after HIIT exercises.…”

“…High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) are two common forms of fat reduction; however, current evidence on the fat-reduction effects of MICT and HIIT is controversial. [3][4][5][6][7] For example, Dupuit et al 6 reported that, compared with the MICT intervention, an 8-week HIIT was more effective in reducing abdominal/visceral fat mass, while Keating et al 3 found significant fat loss in previously inactive overweight adults following a 12-week MICT intervention, but not after HIIT exercises. The reduction in fat mass caused by exercise is defined by the cumulative effect of the acute effects of each round of exercise.…”