Research

Mixed

High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise (HIIE) produces greater reductions in subcutaneous and abdominal fat compared to steady-state aerobic exercise when exercise volume is equated, particularly in overweight or obese populations.

If you are overweight or have metabolic issues, try High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise (HIIE) on a stationary bike. Perform 3-4 sessions per week. Use a protocol like 30 seconds of all-out sprinting followed by 4 minutes of rest, repeated 4-6 times. This takes only about 3-4 minutes per session. While it is uncomfortable, it has been shown to reduce abdominal and subcutaneous fat more effectively than longer, moderate-intensity steady-state cardio, especially in those with higher body fat.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
emerging research examining high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) indicates that it may be more effective at reducing subcutaneous and abdominal body fat than other types of exercise.
Stephen H. Boutcher · Journal of Obesity · 2010

Why this rating

Based on a review of multiple small studies (n=10-32 per study) with varying protocols; not a single large RCT.

Source

High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise and Fat Loss

Stephen H. Boutcher · Journal of Obesity · 2010

DOI 10.1155/2011/868305

narrative_reviewCited 531×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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