Effect of high-intensity interval training protocol on abdominal fat reduction in overweight Chinese women: A randomized controlled trial

The objective of the study was to compare the whole-body and abdominal fat loss resulting from high--intensity interval training (HIIT) with that from moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) with equivalent oxygen cost in overweight women. Forty-three overweight women with matched anthropometric characteristics were randomly assigned to participate in: (1) HIIT [4 x 4-minute running at 85-95% HRpeak, 10-minute recovery], (2) MICT [33-minute running at 60-70% HRpeak] with oxygen cost equivalent to HIIT, and (3) no training [control], for 12 weeks, 4 d·wk-1. Dietary energy intake and habitual energy expenditure were not altered during the intervention. After the intervention, whole-body fat reduction and serum lipid profile modification were similar in the HIIT and MICT groups. With regard to the abdominal visceral (AVFA) and subcutaneous (ASFA) fat areas revealed by computed tomography scans, a greater reduction in ASFA was found in the HIIT than in the MICT group (p=.038). Moreover, a significant reduction in AVFA was found only in the HIIT group. No variables were changed in the control group. Twelve-week HIIT and MICT programmes with equivalent oxygen cost resulted in similar whole-body fat loss in overweight women. Nonetheless, HIIT appears to be more effective than MICT for controlling abdominal visceral and subcutaneous fat.