High Intensity Interval Training can reduce heart fat

As part of our fitness sessions we very often do some High Intensity Interval Training - which is commonly known as HIIT.  It is a great way to exercise the whole body, using all muscles, and building up a sweat.

Well, now a study has found that obese people can reduce heart fat by a third just by taking part in HIIT.

These sessions have soared in popularity, and feature bursts of exercise interspersed with short breaks, and can leave you exhausted, but also feeling great. Until recently, scientists had struggled to uncover the best workouts for reducing heart fat and lower the risk of disease.

Lead author of the study Dr Regitse Christensen, from the University of Copenhagen, looked at 50 inactive and obese adults with an average age of 41. They were then split into three groups. One group did HIIT, while the second group performed a muscle strengthening programme and the final group remained inactive. All the participants were told to eat the same foods and maintain non-training activity levels for 12 weeks.

HIIT cut heart fat by 32 per cent.

Resistance workout was also effective, just not as much, at 24 per cent. But still, not bad.

Dr Christensen said: "these data highlight the potential preventive importance of different exercise."  

HMHB says:

Clearly this is good work. But also we already understand the best way to a healthy heart is to combine a healthy diet with good exercise. That mixture will bring the most significant benefits.