A new study has concluded that high intensity interval training (HIIT) is likely to prove more effective for weight loss than moderate-intensity continuous training (MOD). The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, was a systematic review of 36 earlier studies.
The researchers said that in the studies they looked at HIIT was typically defined as ‘near maximal’ efforts performed at a heart rate ≥80% of the subject’s maximum. They also looked at sprint interval training (SIT) which was generally said to comprise ‘all-out’ efforts. MOD was described as continuous effort that elicits 55%–70% of the maximal heart rate.
The review found that both MOD and HIIT were likely to result in weight loss, but those taking part in HIIT training lost 29 per cent more fat.
Why you won't lose weight cycling in the fat burning zone — the myths busted
The researchers said: "Interval training is an attractive alternative to address overweight and obesity given its potential to offer benefits similar to moderate-intensity continuous training while requiring less time."
However, they cautioned that interval training "might increase the risk of injury and impose higher cardiovascular stress".
They also caution that the wide variety of different interval training programmes included in their analysis "makes it difficult to generally recommend that one particular protocol is 'best' for modulating body adiposity."
Dr Niels Vollaard, a lecturer in health and exercise science at the University of Stirling, told the BBC that the results came despite most people burning more calories during longer moderate exercise.
"There are two possible explanations," he said. "Firstly, HIIT may lead to greater energy expenditure after exercise – metabolism may be increased for up to a day following a HIIT session.
"Secondly, after a HIIT session, you may be less hungry. In our research, we have shown that appetite hormones are indeed affected.
"It is, however, not easy to study whether energy intake is reduced as a result of this in the longer term when following a HIIT routine, so at the moment we are still unsure exactly what the reason is."
Cycling infrastructure does not force drivers to break the law, drivers are the reason they break the law, no one else.
Ah but taking pictures of things to defy the man (avoid a fine) is righteous. Taking pictures of people to grass on them to the cops (perhaps...
But getting paid for it is the very definition of professional....
Never had a Shimano QR fail on me. They just work. And the top end ones look good too....
If you're only looking at the guy in front of you then you're going to crash whatever brakes you have, you need to look beyond them to anticipate...
As a woman, this works great for me! My chain broke once, and a kind guy stopped with a chain breaker and sorted it all out for me. We stopped at a...
Same. I also have gone through a bunch of their tyres, and only the extralight disappointed (torn sidewall) but the standards are fantastic....
thanks for the ideas....
Indeed - but it's no more inconsistent than our current road design - very often UK high streets are "for shopping" and also a busy through route....
If you ask the world's leading economic commentators how many people have been rescued from abject poverty by capitalism the average answer would...