This study provides evidence that energy intake compensation differs between MIIT and HIIT.

PurposeThe objectives of this study were to examine the effect of 4-week moderate- and high-intensity interval training (MIIT and HIIT) on fat oxidation and the responses of blood lactate (BLa) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE).MethodsTen overweight/obese men (age = 29 ±3.7 years, BMI = 30.7 ±3.4 kg/m2) participated in a cross-over study of 4-week MIIT and HIIT training. The MIIT training sessions consisted of 5-min cycling stages at mechanical workloads 20% above and 20% below 45%VO2peak. The HIIT sessions consisted of intervals of 30-s work at 90%VO2peak and 30-s rest. Pre- and post-training assessments included VO2max using a graded exercise test (GXT) and fat oxidation using a 45-min constant-load test at 45%VO2max. BLa and RPE were also measured during the constant-load exercise test.ResultsThere were no significant changes in body composition with either intervention. There were significant increases in fat oxidation after MIIT and HIIT (p ≤ 0.01), with no effect of intensity. BLa during the constant-load exercise test significantly decreased after MIIT and HIIT (p ≤ 0.01), and the difference between MIIT and HIIT was not significant (p = 0.09). RPE significantly decreased after HIIT greater than MIIT (p ≤ 0.05).ConclusionInterval training can increase fat oxidation with no effect of exercise intensity, but BLa and RPE decreased after HIIT to greater extent than MIIT.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to determine reference values for sarcopenia indices using different methods in healthy Saudi young men.MethodsParticipants included 232 Saudi men aged between 20 and 35 years. The study measured anthropometric indices, blood pressure, hand grip strength, and lean muscle mass using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was performed using Inbody 770 and Tanita 980 devices.ResultsUsing DXA, the mean value of appendicular lean mass divided by the height squared (ALM/ht2) was found to be 8.97 ± 1.23 kg/m2; hand grip strength measured 42.8 ± 7.6 kg. While the differences between DXA and BIA (Tanita) were significant for all parameters, the differences between DXA and Inbody values were significant only for ALM parameters. Inbody sensitivity and specificity values were 73% and 95.9%, respectively. The kappa (P = 0.80) and p values (P < 0.001) showed good agreement between Inbody and DXA, whereas Tanita sensitivity and specificity values were 54.2% and 98.3%, respectively. Bland-Altman plots for differences in lean mass values between Tanita, Inbody, and DXA methods showed very high bias for Tanita and DXA, with significant differences (P < 0.001).ConclusionsThe cut-off values for sarcopenia indices for Saudi young men are different from those of other ethnicities. The use of tailored cut-off reference values instead of a general cut-off for BIA devices is recommended.

BackgroundThis study examined the association between objectively measured physical activity patterns and risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Saudi men.MethodsThe study was cross-sectional, and 84 healthy men from the Saudi population (age 37.6 ± 8.8 years, body mass index [BMI] 28.4 ± 5.4 kg/m2) were recruited. Measurements of physical activity were made using triaxial accelerometers over 7 consecutive days of leisure time physical activity. Waist circumference and blood pressure were measured, and fasting blood samples taken to measure glucose, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglycerides (TG).ResultsA total 21.4 % of participants had three or more risk factors for MetS, with low HDL levels the most frequent factor. Light physical activity (LPA) and BMI explained 13 % of the variation in TG. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with a minimum 10-min per session (10-min MVPA), LPA, and BMI explained 16 % of the variation in HDL. Sedentary behavior was not significantly associated with risk factors of MetS, although odds ratios indicated that decreased sedentarism does have a protective effect against MetS.ConclusionsLPA and 10-min MVPA were associated with elevated HDL levels among Saudi men. Future studies should confirm whether time spent physically active independent of intensity is an important factor in improving HDL levels.

BackgroundThe Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) has been recommended for the international tracking of physical activity (PA). This study aimed to investigate the agreement between the GPAQ and accelerometry, as well as the test–retest reliability of the GPAQ in Saudi college-age men.MethodsThe participants included 62 male students, aged 20.0 ± 1.1 year, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.1 ± 6.3 kg/m2. This study used a cross-sectional comparison of measures design. Participants completed the GPAQ twice (2 weeks apart) and wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days.ResultsThe agreement between the GPAQ and accelerometry for moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was weak (r ≤ 0.32). Participants underreported sedentary time relative to accelerometer measurements (∆ = 3.4 h/day). BMI was statistically associated with increased bias between the two methods. However, correlations between the GPAQ test and retest for MVPA and sedentary time were moderate to strong (r = 0.44–0.78).ConclusionThe GPAQ is reliable, but had low agreement with accelerometry for estimating MVPA, and very low agreement with accelerometry for estimating sedentary time in college-age Saudi men. Individual participant characteristics should be considered when using the GPAQ to estimate sedentary time. Adapting the current GPAQ to build a regional PA questionnaire is recommended.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-016-2242-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Early meal timing and chronotype are associated with lower BMI, but their impact on appetite is poorly understood. We examined the impact of meal timing and chronotype on appetite and food reward. Forty-four adults were divided into early (EC; Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) score = 55 ± 5) or late chronotype (LC; MEQ score = 40 ± 6) and assessed for body mass index, habitual energy intake (EI; three-day online dietary record) and eating behavior traits from the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ). Participants attended the laboratory after ≥3 h fast on two occasions for early (AM; 8–10 a.m.) and late (PM; 4–6 p.m.) counterbalanced testing sessions in a 2 × 2 design. Appetite ratings and food reward (validated diurnal Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire) were measured in response to a standardized test meal. LC was associated with higher BMI (p = 0.01), but not with EI or TFEQ. The composite appetite score was lower in AM than PM (MΔ= −5 (95% CI −10, −0.2) mm, p = 0.040). Perceived test meal fillingness was higher in AM than PM and EC compared to LC (p ≤ 0.038). Liking and wanting high-fat food were lower in AM than PM (p ≤ 0.004). The late chronotype was associated with greater desire for high-fat food (p = 0.006). To conclude, early meal timing and early chronotype are independently associated with smaller appetite and lower desire for high-fat food.

The associations between sarcopenia, adiposity indices and metabolic dysregulation still remain controversial. We aimed to assess and compare insulin resistance and metabolic profile in sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic obese Saudi adult men. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at the College of Sports Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh. We recruited 312 Saudi adult male individuals and 288 were finally selected for the study. Body composition analysis and hand grip strength (HGS) were estimated by bioimpedance analysis (BIA) and dynamometer in all subjects, respectively. Fasting blood samples were collected for glucose (FBG), basal insulin (BI) and lipid profile. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the body composition parameters, appendicular lean mass (ALM) and body fat percentage (BF%), into non-obese (NonOb) [Normal ALM+<25 BF%], obese without sarcopenia (ObNonS) [Normal ALM+>25 BF%] and obese with sarcopenia (ObS) [Low ALM+>25 BF%]. Results: Obese subjects had significantly higher BI, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β compared to non-obese. Moreover, comparison between two obese groups revealed that both BI and HOMA-IR levels were higher in ObS subjects compared to ObNonS individuals revealing that sarcopenia exacerbates the insulin resistance profile. There was a significant trend of higher resistance and lower sensitivity from non-obese to obesity with sarcopenia. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) were significantly higher and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lower in sarcopenic obese subjects compared to non-sarcopenic obese individuals. The worsening effects were more significant at cutoff point of 7.46 on insulin indices and lipid profile showing that sarcopenia associated with obesity exacerbates the dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Our study shows that obesity associated with sarcopenia exhibits significantly greater insulin resistance and dyslipidemia than sarcopenia or obesity per se. Therefore, sarcopenic obesity might be an independent risk factor for metabolic disease progression.

The association between objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity with metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been rarely investigated in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the current study was to examine the association of objectively measured sedentary, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with MetS among Saudi adult males. Materials and Methods: The study participants were 103 males from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (mean age = 54.9 ± 10.6 years). Metabolic syndrome was defined based on having three or more of cardiometabolic risk factors. Triaxial accelerometers were used to measure the time spent on sedentary and physical activities across 7 days. A minimum four days with ≥10 hours of wearing time per day were considered a valid data. Binary logistics regression models were performed to examine the association of sedentary and physical activity levels with MetS vs no MetS. Model 1 was unadjusted, models 2, 3, and 4 were mutually controlled for sedentary, light, and MVPA intensities. Results: About 38% of males in the present study were classified as having MetS as demonstrated by a significant (p<0.05) decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and a significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure, glucose, and triglycerides compared to those without MetS. In addition, low levels of LPA (less than 6.3 hours per day) were significantly associated with the risk of having MetS, independent of sedentary and MVPA (odds ratio (OR) 4.26-6.96). The results showed that the associations between sedentary tertiles and MetS were not statistically significant. Levels of MVPA were also not significantly associated with an increased risk of developing MetS in all models. Conclusion: This study showed that low levels of LPA were significantly associated with the risk of having MetS in Saudi males from Riyadh city, independent of MVPA and sedentary time. The results suggest that future intervention studies should assess the positive effect of increasing levels of LPA in reducing the risk of developing MetS in males.