Abstract
BackgroundObesity is associated with impaired health and lower work ability. Increased physical activity is a cornerstone in the treatment of obesity and related risk factors. Recently, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has emerged as a popular exercise option. However, data regarding the effects on cardiometabolic health, perceived work ability and well-being in severely obese individuals are lacking.MethodsSixty-five obese individuals with sedentary occupation (48.7 ± 9.9 years, BMI: 39.6 ± 7.1 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to an extremely time-efficient HIIT (5 × 1 min at 80–95% maximal heart rate on cycle ergometers, 2×/week for 12 weeks) or an inactive control group (CON). Both groups received nutritional counseling to support weight loss. Primary outcome was maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), secondary outcomes were cardiometabolic risk indices, body composition, work ability index (WAI), quality of life (QoL, EQ-5D-5L-questionnaire) and perceived stress (PSQ-questionnaire).ResultsMean body weight reduction was 5.3 kg [95% confidence interval (95% CI) − 7.3 to − 3.3 kg] in the HIIT group (P < 0.001) and 3.7 kg (95% CI − 5.3 to − 2.1 kg) in CON (P < 0.001), respectively. Only the HIIT group showed significant (P < 0.001) changes in VO2max [+ 3.5 mL/kg/min (95% CI 2.5 to 4.6 mL/kg/min)], waist circumference [–7.5 cm (95% CI − 9.8 to − 5.1 kg)], mean arterial blood pressure [− 11 mmHg (95% CI − 14 to − 8 mmHg)], WAI [+ 3.0 points (95% CI 1.7 to 4.3 points)] and QoL [+ 10% (95% CI 5 to 16%)]. In CON, none of these parameters improved significantly.ConclusionsLow-volume HIIT may induce significant improvements in cardiometabolic health, especially VO2max, WAI and well-being in obese individuals after only 12 weeks. Our results underpin the wide range of benefits on health and subjective measures through exercise that go well beyond simple weight loss through dietary restriction alone.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Id: NCT03306069. Registered 10 October 2017, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03306069.
Highlights
Obesity is associated with impaired health and lower work ability
Post hoc tests showed only a significant decrease of waist circumference in the high-intensity interval training (HIIT) group by [− 7.5 cm, P < 0.001, d = − 1.18] (Table 2)
Nutritional analyses revealed that the average daily energy intake decreased in both groups [HIIT: − 346 kcal; control group (CON): − 219 kcal], these changes did not reach statistical significance
Summary
Increased physical activity is a cornerstone in the treatment of obesity and related risk factors. Methods: Sixty-five obese individuals with sedentary occupation (48.7 ± 9.9 years, BMI: 39.6 ± 7.1 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to an extremely time-efficient HIIT (5 × 1 min at 80–95% maximal heart rate on cycle ergometers, 2×/week for 12 weeks) or an inactive control group (CON). Both groups received nutritional counseling to support weight loss. The degree of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, typically expressed as maximal oxygen uptake, V O2max) has been shown to be an independent predictor of CVD and mortality—stronger than other established risk factors, such as smoking, hypertension or diabetes in both normal-weight and overweight/ obese individuals [10]
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