Can Intensity In Strength Training Promote Changes In Caloric Expenditure? Systematic Review And Meta-analysis

Abstract

Strength training (ST) is considered an important strategy for maintaining body weight, as it promotes an increase in total energy expenditure (EE). However, the combination and manipulation of variables (intensity and volume) allows different training methods. PURPOSE: This review aimed to investigatethe effect of ST on EE in adults by a systematic literature review and subsequent meta-analysis. METHODS: A search was performed on the electronic databases Virtual Library for Health Studies (BVS), PubMed and Science Direct using the following keywords: strength training (resistance training; strength training; strength training method) and energy expenditure (energy metabolisms; energy expenditure; caloric expenditure, caloric cost) with “AND” and “OR” combination. Manual searches of references were also conducted for additional relevant studies. Afterevaluating the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the selected studies were analyzed according to strength training methods and the training variables used to measure EE. RESULTS: The study identified two ST methods from literature review: circuit training (CT) and traditional training (TT). The training density were significantly higherin the CT method when compared with in the TT method (TT = 330,61 ± 147,32 vs. CT 749,24 ± 583,70, ∆ = -442,32; IC 95% [-833,17, -51,46] t (-2,52), p<0,05). Meta-analysis showed a significant effect in increases in EE in favor of the TT when compared with CT (-0.99 [95%CI: -1.96, -0.02], p <0.01) with I2 of 89% (p <0.01). After adjusting for bias risk, no significant differences were found in EE associated with intensity (-0.40, 95% CI [0.98, 0.18], p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the present review and meta-analysis allowed to conclude that the intensity does not seem to be associated to the increase of EE in ST.Fig. 2: Forest Plot of the energy expenditure effect of the traditional training method as compared to the circuit training method; confidence interval (CI); standardized mean difference (SMD), standard deviation (SD)