High-intensity interval training elicits more enjoyment and positive affective valence than moderate-intensity training over a 12-week intervention in overweight young women

Feifei Li, Zhaowei Kong, Xiangui Zhu, Bik Chu Chow, Dandan Zhang, Wei Liang, Borui Shang, Yang Liu, Haifeng Zhang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)
253 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in enjoyment and affect in response to four weight control intervention protocols over 12 weeks. 

Methods: Sixty overweight young females were randomised into four intervention groups: repeated sprint training (RST, 6-sec all-out sprint interspersed with 9-sec rest), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with short interval (HIIT120, 1-min effort at 120% V̇O2peak) and long interval (HIIT90, 4-min effort at 90% V̇O2peak), and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT, 60% V̇O2peak) by cycling over 12 weeks. The total workload in each training session in HIIT120, HIIT90, and MICT was confined to 200 kJ, while it was lower in RST with 57 ± 4 kJ. Enjoyment (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, PACES) and affective valence (Feeling Scale, FS) were measured throughout the intervention. 

Results: The score of the PACES on average over 12 weeks showed a significant between-group effect that was lower in MICT (80.8 ± 11.8) compared with HIIT120 (92.5 ± 11.4) and HIIT90 (96.8 ± 13.9) (p < 0.05). In the 8th week, enjoyment was scored higher in two HIITs compared with MICT. In the 12th week, HIITs and RST were more enjoyable than MICT, where two HIITs were better than RST. The score of FS showed a significant between-group effect that was higher in HIIT90 (1.5 ± 1.4) compared with HIIT120 (0.2 ± 1.2) (p < 0.05), but a non-significant time or group-by-time interaction effect. A significant weight loss occurred in three interval training protocols (p < 0.05), but not in MICT. The V̇O2peak significantly increased in four groups without between-group difference. 

Conclusion: Interval training, especially the long-interval type, is an enjoyable and pleasant long-term exercise intervention for overweight young women. RST could be an alternative for weight control considering its time efficiency with comparable enjoyment and overall pleasure.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)249-255
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Exercise Science and Fitness
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2022

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

User-Defined Keywords

  • Affective valence
  • Enjoyment
  • High-intensity interval training
  • Moderate-intensity continuous training
  • Pleasure
  • Repeated sprint interval training

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