Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have published a study in Nature Communications regarding exercise frequency for those with central obesity. The team analyzed whether a high-intensity interval training session performed once per week produces the same health outcomes as the traditional recommendation of three sessions per week.
Participants in the study included 315 adults who were overweight and lived with central obesity. The test groups performed 75 minutes of interval training total per week. One group completed this in a single session while the other split the time across three days. Researchers used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure body fat changes and cardiorespiratory fitness over 16 weeks and a subsequent four-month follow-up.
The results indicate that both groups achieved similar reductions in total body fat, body fat percentage, and waist circumference. Both active groups also saw improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness compared to the control group. These findings suggest that for individuals with significant time constraints due to work or family obligations, a single weekly session of high-intensity interval training serves as a practical therapeutic option.
Professor Parco Siu Ming-fai, the lead investigator from the School of Public Health at HKUMed, notes that this approach addresses the primary barrier of time often faced by those attempting to manage obesity. While frequent exercise remains a standard recommendation, this data provides a realistic alternative that can be maintained over a longer duration for busy adults.