Effects of Intermittent Energy Restriction Alone and in Combination with Sprint Interval Training on Body Composition and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Individuals with Overweight and Obesity

Matthew B. Cooke, William Deasy, Elya J. Ritenis, Robin A. Wilson and Christos G. Stathis
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Matthew B. Cooke: College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
William Deasy: College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Elya J. Ritenis: Department of Health Sciences and Biostatistics, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
Robin A. Wilson: College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Christos G. Stathis: College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-17

Abstract: The popularity of intermittent fasting (IF) and high intensity (sprint) interval training (SIT) has increased in recent years amongst the general public due to their purported health benefits and feasibility of incorporation into daily life. The number of scientific studies investigating these strategies has also increased, however, very few have examined the combined effects, especially on body composition and cardiometabolic biomarkers, which is the primary aim of this investigation. A total of thirty-four male and female participants (age: 35.4 ± 8.4 y, body mass index (BMI): 31.3 ± 3.5 kg/m 2 , aerobic capacity (VO 2peak ) 27.7 ± 7.0 mL·kg −1 ·min −1 ) were randomized into one of three 16-week interventions: (1) 5:2 IF (2 non-consecutive days of fasting per week, 5 days on ad libitum eating), (2) supervised SIT (3 bouts per week of 20s cycling at 150% VO 2peak followed by 40 s of active rest, total 10 min duration), and (3) a combination of both interventions. Body composition, haemodynamic and VO 2peak were measured at 0, 8 and 16 weeks. Blood samples were also taken and analysed for lipid profiles and markers of glucose regulation. Both IF and IF/SIT significantly decreased body weight, fat mass and visceral fat compared to SIT only ( p < 0.05), with no significant differences between diet and diet + exercise combined. The effects of diet and/or exercise on cardiometabolic biomarkers were mixed. Only exercise alone or with IF significantly increased cardiorespiratory fitness. The results suggest that energy restriction was the main driver of body composition enhancement, with little effect from the low volume SIT. Conversely, to achieve benefits in cardiorespiratory fitness, exercise is required.

Keywords: intermittent fasting; sprint exercise; metabolic; body composition; cardiorespiratory fitness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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