Effect of High-Intensity Interval Training and Intermittent Fasting on Body Composition and Physical Performance in Active Women

Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez, Jacobo A. Rubio-Arias, José M. García- De Frutos, Manuel Vicente-Martínez and Thomas P. Gunnarsson
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Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Jacobo A. Rubio-Arias: Department of Education, Faculty of Education Sciences, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
José M. García- De Frutos: Faculty of Sport, San Antonio Catholic University of Murcia, 30107 Murcia, Spain
Manuel Vicente-Martínez: Faculty of Health Sciences, Miguel de Cervantes European University, 47012 Valladolid, Spain
Thomas P. Gunnarsson: Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Nutritional strategies may have an effect on body composition and physical performance. Intermittent fasting (IF) is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and fasting in specified time periods. Moreover, it is a common strategy among members of the athlete population that are looking for weight loss. However, this strategy may negatively affect physical performance, as compared to other weight loss strategies. The main purpose of this research was to use a cross-over design to study the effects of HIIT, with or without intermittent fasting, on muscular and anaerobic performance in 14 active women (27 ± 6 y). To assess performance, body composition (anthropometry), hand-grip strength, and counter-movement jump (CMJ) height was measured, and a 30 s Wingate test was completed assessed. HIIT + IF reduced fat mass (1 kg, p < 0.05, d = 1.1; 1.5%, p < 0.01, d = 1.0) and increased CMJ height (6.2 cm, p < 0.001, d = 1.8). In addition, the change in CMJ height in HIIT + IF was higher over HIIT (5.2 cm, p < 0.001, d = 1.9). In conclusion, intermittent fasting could be a nutritional strategy to decrease fat mass and increase jumping performance. However, longer duration programs would be necessary to determine whether other parameters of muscle performance could be positively affected by IF.

Keywords: nutrition; diet; exercise; health promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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