Effect of Aerobic Exercise Intensity on Energy Expenditure and Weight Loss in Severe Obesity-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Jarle Berge; Jøran Hjelmesaeth; Jens K Hertel; Espen Gjevestad; Milada Cvancarova Småstuen; Line Kristin Johnson; Catia Martins; Eivind Andersen; Jan Helgerud; Øyvind Støren

doi:10.1002/oby.23078

Effect of Aerobic Exercise Intensity on Energy Expenditure and Weight Loss in Severe Obesity-A Randomized Controlled Trial

Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021 Feb;29(2):359-369. doi: 10.1002/oby.23078.

Authors

Jarle Berge^{1

2

3}, Jøran Hjelmesaeth^{1

4}, Jens K Hertel¹, Espen Gjevestad^{1

2

5}, Milada Cvancarova Småstuen¹, Line Kristin Johnson¹, Catia Martins^{6

7}, Eivind Andersen⁸, Jan Helgerud^{9

10}, Øyvind Støren^{3

8}

Affiliations

¹ Morbid Obesity Centre, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
² Clinic of Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Stavern, Norway.
³ Nature, Health and Environment, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway.
⁴ Department of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁵ Norwegian Police University College, Stavern, Norway.
⁶ Obesity Research Group, Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
⁷ Center for Obesity, Department of Surgery, St. Olav Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
⁸ Department of Sport, Physical Education and Outdoor Life Studies, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway.
⁹ Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
¹⁰ Myworkout, Medical Rehabilitation Clinic, Trondheim, Norway.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of two aerobic exercise programs of different intensities on energy expenditure.

Methods: This was a single-center randomized controlled trial of patients with severe obesity allocated to a 24-week moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) program or a combined MICT with high-intensity interval training (HIIT/MICT) program. The primary outcome was energy expenditure during exercise (EEDE). Secondary outcomes included resting metabolic rate, cardiorespiratory fitness, and body composition.

Results: A total of 82 (56% females) patients were screened, and 71 (55% females) patients were allocated to HIIT/MICT (n = 37) or MICT (n = 34). Per-protocol analysis showed that EEDE increased by 10% (95% CI: 3%-17%) in the HIIT/MICT group (n = 16) and 7.5% (95% CI: 4%-10%) in the MICT group (n = 24), with no differences between groups. In the 8- to 16- week per-protocol analysis, the HIIT/MICT group had a significantly larger increase in EEDE compared with the MICT group. Resting metabolic rate remained unchanged in both groups. HIIT/MICT and MICT were associated with significant weight loss of 5 kg and 2 kg, respectively.

Conclusions: Patients completing a 24-week combined HIIT/MICT program did not achieve a higher EEDE compared with those who completed a 24-week MICT program. The HIIT/MICT group experienced, on average, a 3-kg-larger weight loss than the MICT group.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02311738.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Energy Metabolism / physiology*
Exercise / physiology*
Exercise Therapy*
Female
Humans
Male
Obesity, Morbid / physiopathology
Obesity, Morbid / therapy*
Weight Loss / physiology*

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02311738