High-Intensity Exercise May Be Beneficial After a Heart Attack

While both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) can positively affect total body mass and body mass index (BMI) among individuals with metabolic syndrome in cardiac rehabilitation, HIIT has a greater impact on central obesity, according to a new study.

In fact, the study’s findings show that HIIT cannot only better reduce total body fat and abdominal fat distribution, but it can also increase lean mass.

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The study, which was co-authored by Dr Yaoshan Dun and colleagues, will be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 68th Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans later this month.

To determine which form of exercise is more beneficial, the researchers analyzed data on 56 participants who had metabolic syndrome and were enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation. The participants had each completed 36 sessions of cardiac rehabilitation and also had pre-post dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The researchers retrospectively screened the participants between 2015 and 2018.

Of the 56 participants, 42 practiced HIIT, which was defined as 4 to 8 alternating intervals of high-intensity (1 minute at rated perceived exertion [RPE] of 14-17) and low-intensity (3 to 5 minutes at RPE 10-12). The other 14 participants engaged in MICT, which was defined as 30 minutes of exercise at RPE 11-14.

The groups were matched for age, sex, BMI, comorbidities, and medications.

After 12 weeks of exercise, HIIT significantly reduced fat mass, percent total body fat, percent waist fat, and waist circumference and also increased lean body mass compared with MICT.

Changes in body weight and BMI were not significant between the groups.

“These findings support the use of high-intensity interval training as an essential treatment tool to improve body composition in heart attack patients enrolled in early outpatient cardiac rehabilitation,” said Dun.²

—Colleen Murphy

References:

1. Dun Y, Medina-Inojosa JR, Bonikowske AR. Impact of high-intensity interval training on central obesity in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation patients with metabolic syndrome. Paper presented at: ACC.19; March 16-18, 2019; New Orleans, LA. http://2019.accmedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Dun-HIIT_Press-Release-Only_Abstract.pdf. Accessed March 6, 2019.

2. High-intensity interval training helps trim belly fat in cardiac rehab [press release]. Seattle, Washington; March 6, 2019. https://www.acc.org/about-acc/press-releases/2019/03/06/09/47/high-intensity-interval-training-helps-trim-belly-fat-in-cardiac-rehab. Accessed March 6, 2019.