Cited by 294Cardiovascular and exercise physiologyPhysical Activity and HealthSports Performance and Training

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 51 of the 51 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 40 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Towards the minimal amount of exercise for improving metabolic health: beneficial effects of reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training

Open access
Metcalfe, Richard S., Babraj, John A., Fawkner, Samantha G., Vollaard, Niels B. J.·2012·European Journal of Applied Physiology

Abstract

High-intensity interval training (HIT) has been proposed as a time-efficient alternative to traditional cardiorespiratory exercise training, but is very fatiguing. In this study, we investigated the effects of a reduced-exertion HIT (REHIT) exercise intervention on insulin sensitivity and aerobic capacity. Twenty-nine healthy but sedentary young men and women were randomly assigned to the REHIT intervention (men, n = 7; women, n = 8) or a control group (men, n = 6; women, n = 8). Subjects assigned to the control groups maintained their normal sedentary lifestyle, whilst subjects in the training groups completed three exercise sessions per week for 6 weeks. The 10-min exercise sessions consisted of low-intensity cycling (60 W) and one (first session) or two (all other sessions) brief ‘all-out’ sprints (10 s in week 1, 15 s in weeks 2–3 and 20 s in the final 3 weeks). Aerobic capacity (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}{}_{ 2}{\text{peak}} $$\end{document}) and the glucose and insulin response to a 75-g glucose load (OGTT) were determined before and 3 days after the exercise program. Despite relatively low ratings of perceived exertion (RPE 13 ± 1), insulin sensitivity significantly increased by 28% in the male training group following the REHIT intervention (P < 0.05). \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}{}_{ 2}{\text{peak}} $$\end{document} increased in the male training (+15%) and female training (+12%) groups (P < 0.01). In conclusion we show that a novel, feasible exercise intervention can improve metabolic health and aerobic capacity. REHIT may offer a genuinely time-efficient alternative to HIT and conventional cardiorespiratory exercise training for improving risk factors of T2D.

Overview

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Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

A 6-week reduced-exertion high-intensity interval training (REHIT) program—3 sessions/week, 10 minutes each, totaling 30 minutes/week—improved insulin sensitivity in sedentary young men and aerobic capacity in both men and women. The authors conclude REHIT may be a time-efficient alternative to classic HIT and conventional cardiorespiratory training for improving type 2 diabetes risk factors.

Key findings

  • Insulin sensitivity increased by 28% in the male REHIT group following training (P<0.05), but not in female subjects.
  • VO₂peak increased by 15% in men and 12% in women after REHIT (P<0.01), with no significant gender difference in this effect.
  • No changes in weight or BMI occurred in any group; mean adherence to the REHIT program was 97%, and 10 of 15 training participants completed all 18 sessions.
  • Mean RPE peaked at session 12 (week 4) at about 14 (“somewhat hard”); no participant gave an RPE higher than 15, though women found the program significantly harder than men.

Methods

  • Twenty-nine healthy but sedentary young men (n=13) and women (n=16) were randomized to REHIT or control; training groups were men n=7 and women n=8, control groups were men n=6 and women n=8.
  • REHIT consisted of 3 supervised sessions/week for 6 weeks; each 10-minute session included low-intensity cycling at 60 W plus one (first session) or two all-out sprints, with sprint duration increasing from 10 s in week 1 to 15 s in weeks 2–3 and 20 s in the final 3 weeks.
  • Insulin sensitivity was assessed by OGTT with 75 g glucose and the Cederholm index; aerobic capacity was assessed by a graded cycling VO₂peak test before and 3 days after training; three-way mixed-model ANOVAs tested gender × group × time effects.

Limitations

  • Stated in the paper: the study had low statistical power, especially for the female REHIT group (n=8); possible non-responders may explain the lack of insulin-sensitivity improvement in women; the post-intervention OGTT was 3 days after the final session, so earlier improvements in women cannot be ruled out; glycogen depletion and sprint power output were not measured; some women struggled to increase pedal frequency/power during sprints, possibly reducing glycogen depletion; and the RPE scale may not validly capture exertion during interval exercise and may underestimate sprint effort.
  • Evident from the text: the gender-specific insulin-sensitivity finding rests on very small subgroups, and the control condition was maintenance of a sedentary lifestyle rather than an active comparison intervention.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s00421-011-2254-z

Cites

51 of 51 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • It may state two separate claims as one. 20
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 7
27 of 27
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Participants in both groups did not change their physical activity patterns outside the intervention during the study.

    “the potentially confounding effect of changes in diet and physical activity patterns was fully explained to all participants and they were asked to maintain their normal lifestyle patterns throughout the study period.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No other study has investigated the effects of HIT on insulin sensitivity in women.

    “No other study has investigated the effects of HIT on insulin sensitivity in women.”
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Metadata

Authors
Metcalfe, R. S., Babraj, J. A., Fawkner, S. G., & Vollaard, N. B. J.
Affiliations
  • Heriot-Watt University (GB)
  • Abertay University (GB)
Corresponding author
Vollaard, Niels B. J.
Venue
European Journal of Applied Physiology
Published
2011-11-29
Volume
112
Issue
7
Pages
2767-2775
ISSN
  • 0020-9376 (ISSN-L)
  • 1439-6319
  • 1439-6327
OpenAlex
W2070323514
Cited by
294
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 5
FWCI
53.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Locations
  • European Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • The University of Bath Online Publications Store (The University of Bath) (submittedVersion)
  • Pure (University of Bath) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Stirling Online Research Repository (University of Stirling) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
Funders
Heriot-Watt University
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
Keywords
high-intensity interval training, insulin sensitivity, cardiorespiratory fitness, metabolic health, type 2 diabetes risk, all-out sprints, sedentary lifestyle, time-efficient exercise, glucose tolerance
MeSH terms
Adult, Physical Exertion, Female, Humans, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Male, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Fitness, Exercise Tolerance, Young Adult

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