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Effects of high-intensity interval training on physical capacities and substrate oxidation rate in obese adolescents

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Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the effects of a 3-week weight-management program entailing moderate energy restriction, nutritional education, psychological counseling and three different exercise training (a: low intensity, LI: 40 % V′O2max; b: high intensity, HI: 70 % V′O2max; c: high-intensity interval training, HIIT), on body composition, energy expenditure and fat oxidation rate in obese adolescents.

Methods

Thirty obese adolescents (age: 15–17 years, BMI: 37.5 kg m−2) participated in this study. Before starting (week 0, W0) and at the end of the weight-management program (week 3, W3), body composition was assessed by an impedancemeter; basal metabolic rate (BMR), energy expenditure and substrate oxidation rate were measured during exercise and post-exercise recovery by indirect calorimetry.

Results

At W3, body mass (BM) and fat mass (FM) decreased significantly in all groups, the decreases being significantly greater in the LI than in the HI and HIIT subgroups (BM: −8.4 ± 1.5 vs −6.3 ± 1.9 vs −4.9 ± 1.3 kg and FM: −4.2 ± 1.9 vs −2.8 ± 1.2 vs −2.3 ± 1.4 kg, p < 0.05, respectively). V′O2peak, expressed in relative values, changed significantly only in the HI and HIIT groups by 0.009 ± 0.005 and 0.007 ± 0.004 L kg FFM−1 min−1 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the HI and HIIT subgroups exhibited a greater absolute rate of fat oxidation between 50 and 70 % V′O2peak at W3. No significant changes were observed at W3 in BMR, energy expenditure during exercise and post-exercise recovery.

Conclusion

A 3-week weight-management program induced a greater decrease in BM and FM in the LI than in the HI and HIIT subgroups, and greater increase in V′O2peak and fat oxidation rate in the HI and HIIT than in the LI subgroup.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the adolescents (and their parents) for participating in the present study, to the nursing staff of the Division of Auxology, Italian Institute for Auxology, IRCCS, for their qualified assistance during the clinical study. The study was supported by Progetti di Ricerca Corrente, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, P.le Kolbe 4-33100, Udine, Italy

    S. Lazzer

  2. School of Sport Science, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    S. Lazzer

  3. Laboratorio Sperimentale di Ricerche Auxo-Endocrinologiche, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Verbania, Italy

    S. Lazzer, G. Tringali, M. Caccavale, R. De Micheli, L. Abbruzzese & A. Sartorio

  4. Divisione di Auxologia and Malattie Metaboliche, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Milan, Verbania, Italy

    A. Sartorio

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  1. S. Lazzer
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  2. G. Tringali
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  3. M. Caccavale
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  4. R. De Micheli
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  5. L. Abbruzzese
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Correspondence to S. Lazzer.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Italian Institute for Auxology (Milan).

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Written informed consent was obtained before beginning the study.

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Lazzer, S., Tringali, G., Caccavale, M. et al. Effects of high-intensity interval training on physical capacities and substrate oxidation rate in obese adolescents. J Endocrinol Invest 40, 217–226 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-016-0551-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-016-0551-4

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