Is high-intensity interval training harmful to health?

Niklas Joisten; Sebastian Gehlert; Philipp Zimmer

doi:10.1016/j.tem.2021.07.003

Is high-intensity interval training harmful to health?

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2022 Feb;33(2):85-86. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.07.003. Epub 2021 Jul 28.

Authors

Niklas Joisten¹, Sebastian Gehlert², Philipp Zimmer³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
² Institute of Sport Science, Biosciences of Sports, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany.
³ Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany. Electronic address: philipp.zimmer@tu-dortmund.de.

PMID: 34332852
DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2021.07.003

Abstract

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a common method to increase performance and promote health in elite sports, rehabilitation, and disease prevention. Flockhart et al. suggest a limit of HIIT above which detrimental effects on metabolic health emerge. We put these findings into context and assess the evidence that HIIT might be harmful.

Keywords: HIIT; exercise; glucose tolerance; metabolism; mitochondria.

MeSH terms

Health Promotion
High-Intensity Interval Training* / methods
Humans