Mixed
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) improves brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in obese adults, whereas moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) increases resting brachial artery diameter and enhances low flow-mediated constriction (L-FMC).
If you are obese and want to improve your blood vessel function (endothelial health), High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) is more effective than moderate continuous exercise for improving flow-mediated dilation. You do not need to lose weight to see these vascular benefits. HIIT also saves you time and energy compared to moderate exercise. However, moderate exercise may still offer structural benefits like increased resting artery diameter, so both have value, but for functional dilation, HIIT wins.
HIIT and MICT produced different vascular adaptations in obese adults, with HIIT improving FMD and MICT increasing resting artery diameter and enhancing L-FMC.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial with clear statistical significance for the primary outcomes, though sample size is small (n=18).
Source
Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on endothelial function and cardiometabolic risk markers in obese adults
Brandon J. Sawyer et al. · Journal of Applied Physiology · 2016
DOI 10.1152/japplphysiol.00024.2016
More from this paper
- Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) increases resting brachial artery diameter and enhances low flow-mediated constriction (L-FMC) in obese adults, despite not improving flow-mediated dilation (FMD).Good
- Both HIIT and MICT improve maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) similarly in obese adults, regardless of the different vascular adaptations produced by each training mode.Good
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