High-intensity Intermittent Training for Obese Individuals

The most appropriate and effective exercise interventions for weight loss remain a matter of continued discussion and there is a need to identify sustainable exercise programs which successfully promote weight loss and benefit health. The primary objective of this study is to determine if high-intensity intermittent sprinting (HIIS) produces better results in terms of reducing metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors, with special emphasis to fat mass loss and insulin sensitivity in "healthy" obese volunteers compared with an iso-caloric program of moderate-intensity continuous cycling (MICC) (control condition following the international recommendations). We will also assess the impact of short duration sprints (SDS) in the above factors and to understand the potential mechanisms behind different outcomes among training programs. The overall hypothesis is that HIIS will lead to a greater reduction in metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors compared with MICC in healthy obese volunteers and that SDS will produce similar improvements in cardiovascular risk factors as the longer duration HIIS