Physiological, perceptual and affective responses to high-intensity interval training using two work-matched programs with different bout duration in obese males

Spyridon Tsirigkakis; Yiannis Koutedakis; George Mastorakos; Pinelopi S Stavrinou; Vassilis Mougios; Gregory C Bogdanis

doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2022.04.002

Physiological, perceptual and affective responses to high-intensity interval training using two work-matched programs with different bout duration in obese males

J Exerc Sci Fit. 2022 Jul;20(3):199-205. doi: 10.1016/j.jesf.2022.04.002. Epub 2022 Apr 11.

Authors

Spyridon Tsirigkakis¹, Yiannis Koutedakis¹, George Mastorakos^{2

3}, Pinelopi S Stavrinou⁴, Vassilis Mougios⁵, Gregory C Bogdanis⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Physical Education & Sports Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece.
² Unit of Metabolism and Endocrinology of Physical Activity and Sport, Aretaieion Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
³ Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, Aretaieion Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
⁴ Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
⁵ Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁶ School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 17237, Athens, Greece.

Abstract

Objectives: This study compared physiological, perceptual, and affective responses to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) between two work-matched programs with different bout durations in obese males.

Methods: Sixteen low-to-moderately active obese men completed an eight-week cycling program of supervised HIIT (3 days/week) using either short bouts [48 × 10 s at 100% of peak power output (PPO) with 15 s of recovery (HIIT10)] or long bouts [8 × 60 s at 100% PPO with 90 s of recovery (HIIT60)]. Workload was progressively adjusted, to maintain high intensity (100% PPO), throughout training. Blood lactate (BLa), heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and feeling scale ratings (pleasure/displeasure) were measured in each HIIT session.

Results: Average HR decreased in the last 2 weeks of training in both groups by 2.2 ± 1.8% of peak HR (p < 0.001). Training resulted in a reduction in BLa during exercise by 28 ± 19% (p < 0.001) from the 10th min onward only in HIIT10. Similarly, during the last weeks of training, RPE decreased (by 1.0 ± 1.1 units, p < 0.05) and feeling scale ratings were improved only in HIIT10, while RPE remained unchanged and feeling scale ratings deteriorated in HIIT60 (from 3.0 ± 1.1 to 2.1 ± 0.9 units, p < 0.001). No differences in post-exercise enjoyment were found.

Conclusion: Both HIIT formats induced similar HR adaptations, but improvement of BLa, perceptual and affective responses occurred only when bout duration was shorter. Our findings suggest that, in low-to-moderately active obese men, HIIT may be more effective in improving metabolic, perceptual, and affective responses when shorter, rather than longer, bouts of exercise are used.

Keywords: Enjoyment; High-intensity interval training (HIIT); Obesity; Perceptual responses; Pleasure-displeasure.