Metabolic rate in sedentary adults, following different exercise training interventions: The FIT-AGEING randomized controlled trial

Abstract

This study compares the influence of different exercise training programs on basal metabolic rate (BMR) and fat oxidation, in basal conditions (BFox) and during exercise (MFO), in sedentary, middle-aged adults. The study subjects of this 12 week-long, randomised controlled trial, were 71 middle-aged adults (age 53.5±4.9 years; 52% women). Subjects were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (1) no exercise, (2) concurrent training based on international physical activity recommendations (PAR group), (3) high intensity interval training (HIIT group), and (4) high intensity interval training plus whole-body electromyostimulation (HIIT+EMS group). Subject BMR, BFox and MFO were determined by indirect calorimetry before and after the intervention. The HIIT+EMS subjects showed significant increases in BFox following the intervention compared with the control group (all P=0.043); no such differences were seen in the PAR and HIIT compared with the control group (all P≥0.1). A significant increase in post-intervention MFO was noted for the HIIT and HIIT+EMS group compared to the non-exercise control group (P<0.05); no such difference was seen in the PAR group compared to the control group (all P≥0.05). Twelve weeks of high intensity interval training plus whole-body electromyostimulation may increase the BFox and MFO of middle-aged sedentary adults. These findings have important clinical implications; a well-designed high-intensity interval training program plus whole-body electromyostimulation might be followed to help combat the appearance of chronic metabolic diseases characterized by metabolic inflexibility in middle-aged sedentary adults, though it will be necessary to determine how long the effects last.