HIIT Promotes Fat Loss Over 65
New research suggests HIIT workouts may be particularly effective for promoting fat loss and preserving muscle mass in people over 65. The findings offer useful insights for long-term health planning as older adults seek efficient exercise methods. The study challenges assumptions about appropriate exercise intensity for seniors and highlights HIIT's potential benefits across age groups.
- The study, published in the journal *Maturitas*, was conducted by researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. - Over 120 healthy adults from the Greater Brisbane region, with an average age of 72, participated in the six-month study, exercising three times per week. - While low, medium, and high-intensity exercise all resulted in modest fat loss, only the HIIT group was able to preserve their lean muscle mass. - The high-intensity training in the study consisted of repeated short intervals of strenuous exercise where breathing becomes heavy and conversation is difficult, followed by periods of easier recovery. - Researchers theorize that HIIT is more effective at preserving muscle because the higher stress on the muscles provides a stronger signal for the body to maintain muscle tissue. - Beyond body composition, other studies have shown that HIIT can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and memory in older adults. - A study from the Mayo Clinic found that HIIT can reverse the age-related deterioration in muscle cells by prompting the DNA to produce more energy and encouraging the growth of new muscle. - A Norwegian study that followed participants for five years found that seniors who engaged in HIIT workouts twice a week had a lower mortality rate from all causes compared to those who did moderate exercise.
