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Low-volume high-intensity interval training in a gym setting improves cardio-metabolic and psychological health
journal contribution
posted on 2015-01-01, 00:00 authored by S O Shepherd, O J Wilson, A S Taylor, C Thøgersen-Ntoumani, A M Adlan, A J M Wagenmakers, Chris ShawChris Shaw© 2015 Shepherd et al. Background Within a controlled laboratory environment, high-intensity interval training (HIT) elicits similar cardiovascular and metabolic benefits as traditional moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). It is currently unclear how HIT can be applied effectively in a real-world environment. Purpose To investigate the hypothesis that 10 weeks of HIT, performed in an instructor-led, groupbased gym setting, elicits improvements in aerobic capacity (VO2max), cardio-metabolic risk and psychological health which are comparable to MICT. Methods Ninety physically inactive volunteers (42±11 y, 27.7±4.8 kg.m-2) were randomly assigned to HIT or MICT group exercise classes. HIT consisted of repeated sprints (15-60 seconds, >90% HRmax) interspersed with periods of recovery cycling (≥25 min.session-1, 3 sessions. week-1). MICT participants performed continuous cycling (70%HRmax, 30-45 min.session-1, 5 sessions.week-1). VO2max, markers of cardio-metabolic risk, and psychological health were assessed pre and post-intervention. Results Mean weekly training time was 55±10 (HIT) and 128±44 min (MICT) (p<0.05), with greater adherence to HIT (83±14% vs. 61±15% prescribed sessions attended, respectively; p<0.05). HIT improved VO2max, insulin sensitivity, reduced abdominal fat mass, and induced favourable changes in blood lipids (p<0.05). HIT also induced beneficial effects on health perceptions, positive and negative affect, and subjective vitality (p<0.05). No difference between HIT and MICT was seen for any of these variables. Conclusions HIT performed in a real-world gym setting improves cardio-metabolic risk factors and psychological health in physically inactive adults. With a reduced time commitment and greater adherence than MICT, HIT offers a viable and effective exercise strategy to target the growing incidence of metabolic disease and psychological ill-being associated with physical inactivity.
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PLoS ONEVolume
10Issue
9Season
Article Number : e0139056Article number
e0139056Pagination
1 - 17Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLOS)Location
San Francisco, Calif.Publisher DOI
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eISSN
1932-6203Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleCopyright notice
2015, The AuthorsUsage metrics
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