New study: steady state better than HIIT for overweight?

knitapeace
knitapeace Posts: 1,013 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/aerobic-exercise-better-for-weight-loss-than-high-intensity-interval-training-research-from-the-charles-perkins-centre-finds/story-fngr8h4f-1226916104243

For those that can't/don't wanna click through, new study seems to find that the fat-burning effects of HIIT workouts are overstated for people who are currently overweight, and steady state cardio helps them drop more fat. Anyone with expertise want to weigh in?

Quick edit to add relevant quote:

“HIIT can be used as a time-efficient training method to improve fitness, but if you’re overweight you can’t afford to dump aerobic exercise if you want to see fat loss,” he [Dr. Nathan Johnson] said.

The study, published in the Journal of Obesity, had implications for the management of weight loss, Dr [Shelley] Keating said.

“Forget the claims HIIT workouts can whip overweight people into shape in less time than regular aerobic exercise — it’s more efficient to workout regularly at a continuous intensity to achieve a fat loss goal,” she said.

Replies

  • 143tobe
    143tobe Posts: 620 Member
    in for answers
  • koosorlose
    koosorlose Posts: 186
    Good!!! I like Zumba way better than HIIT anyways, lol
  • ItsCasey
    ItsCasey Posts: 4,021 Member
    Old study: calorie deficit better than anything for overweight.
  • OldChief10
    OldChief10 Posts: 17 Member
    in for later
  • knitapeace
    knitapeace Posts: 1,013 Member
    I love my HIIT days and I love my 5K run days...I'm playing both sides of the checkerboard just to be safe lol. (Oh I love my strength training days too...3-sided checkerboard?)
  • KeepGoingKylene
    KeepGoingKylene Posts: 432 Member
    I love my HIIT days and I love my 5K run days...I'm playing both sides of the checkerboard just to be safe lol. (Oh I love my strength training days too...3-sided checkerboard?)

    ^ me too! I like it all! Couldn't give up my HIIT anyways, so variety for me is best!
  • jason_adams
    jason_adams Posts: 187 Member
    The one that's better is the one that the person will keep doing. A mix of the two is probably best.

    Caloric deficit is "best" for overweight folks if all they want to do is loose weight. If they want any of the benefits of CV exercise.... then they're just going to have to do some!
  • owngoal64
    owngoal64 Posts: 22 Member
    HIIT does work if you do it correctly, because it burns more calories than plain cardio both during and after the workout (if you don't believe it then do your own comparison with a Heart Rate Monitor).

    The reason HIIT is not effective for some is because it tends to be a painful workout (again if done properly), so people tend to cut it short or skip the workout entirely (yes, I am speaking from experience).

    I would recommend everyone trying to lose weight work in a HIIT workout from one to three days per week, depending on your fitness level. Good luck!
  • Luke_I_am_your_spotter
    Luke_I_am_your_spotter Posts: 4,179 Member
    That "doctor" describes HIIT as "dumping aerobic exercise".... :huh:

    I'd like to know when the last time he did aerobic exercise was and what kind of doctor is he?

    it's pretty simple... eat less train more if your goal is to lose weight. Why discourage people from becoming active? HIIT- steady state... whatever... just do it and eat at a deficit.
  • thirteeninches
    thirteeninches Posts: 61 Member
    HIIT in an overweight, out of shape person is more likely to reach above 80% of one's maximum heart rate. This is the zone (anaerobic) that is good for building endurance. The ideal zone for fat loss (aerobic) is lower than that-depending on the individual between 50% to 80% of one's max heart rate. So it depends on one's fitness goals. As an overweight person interested in both losing weight and building endurance, I do both. :)
  • aliakynes
    aliakynes Posts: 352 Member
    HIIT is great if you're in shape enough to do it correctly. Some overweight people who attempt it aren't quite there and it becomes an anaerobic interval workout rather than a true HIIT workout. That doesn't make it wrong and if they stick with it, they'll likely start hitting their Vo2 max.

    Bottom line, if you're doing something consistently and you enjoy it, it doesn't matter too much in the long run if your ultimate goal is weight loss. Find something that gets you moving and stay in motion.

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