The influence of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on sedentary time in overweight and obese adults

Abstract

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) elicits health benefits but it is unclear how HIIT impacts sedentary behaviour. In this preliminary study, we compared the effects of supervised HIIT or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on sedentary time in overweight/obese adults. In both groups, percentage of time spent in sedentary activities was significantly reduced during the supervised exercise intervention (time main effect, P = 0.03), suggesting that both HIIT and MICT replaced time spent previously being sedentary.

Sedentary behavior compensation to 1‐year exercise RCT in patients with type 2 diabetes

“…In fact, not only the results did not show an increase in sedentary behaviors, as women from the HIIT group significantly reduced their sitting time from baseline to the last month of the intervention. Extending previous observations in this patient group, 15 and similarly to what was found in healthy individuals, 21,31,32 patients with T2D appear not to increase sedentary behavior in response to a longer…”

“…A recent 10‐month randomized clinical trial including aerobic exercise (5 days/wk at either 400 kcal per session or 600 kcal per session) found no compensatory decreases in non‐exercise PA. Similar to our observations, overweight and obese individuals do not became less physically active or spend more time in sedentary pursuits in response to an exercise intervention . Two previous trials that also considered an extended exercise intervention (8‐month) concluded that in middle‐aged overweight or obese adults, PA energy expenditure increased and that there was no compensatory decrease in non‐exercise PA …”

“…Considering that participants had an average of 820 minutes of accelerometer daily wear time and an average of 6 days/wk of accelerometer data collection, this means that from the total weekly accelerometer wear time, the time in which they were partaking in the training sessions was approximately 2%, which can hardly impact the results. The consistent observations from both objective monitoring and self‐report reinforce that participation in an exercise intervention is not associated with spending more time in sedentary pursuits during free living, which supports previous findings in overweight/obese participants …”

“…Similar to our observations, overweight and obese individuals do not became less physically active or spend more time in sedentary pursuits in response to an exercise intervention. 21,30 Two previous trials that also considered an extended exercise intervention (8month) concluded that in middle-aged overweight or obese adults, PA energy expenditure increased and that there was no compensatory decrease in non-exercise PA. 18,31 Overall, these findings suggest that the type of aerobic training (MICT or HIIT) did not cause different responses in sedentary behaviors, with all sitting and screen indicators not altering in response to the training programs. Although both men and women seemed not to compensate the inclusion of either MICT or HIIT by increasing sedentary behaviors, the two types of training seemed to have a slightly different impact according to sex.…”

“…One study compared the effects of supervised high intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) on sedentary time in overweight/obese adults and suggested that both replaced time spent previously being sedentary. 21 Another study found that a 2-month exercise program did not result in compensatory changes on PA in patients with T2D. 15 However, the potential compensatory effects of different exercise interventions using a longer term follow up in patients with T2D remains unknown.…”