Exercise for affect and enjoyment in overweight or obese males: a comparison of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is effective for generating positive cardiovascular health and fitness benefits. This study compared HIIT and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for affective state and enjoyment in sedentary males with overweight or obesity.

Twenty-eight participants performed stationary cycling for 6 weeks × 3 sessions/week. Participants were randomly allocated to HIIT (N=16) (10 × 1-minute intervals at ~90% peak heart rate) or MICT (N=12) (30 minutes at 65-75% peak heart rate). Affective state changes were assessed after 6-weeks training. Enjoyment and acute change in affect were assessed after individual training sessions.

HIIT participants reported improved positive affect following 6 weeks training (∆ 3.6 ± 4.6, p = 0.007, effect size d = 0.70), without corresponding improvement in negative affect (p = 0.48, d = -0.19). MICT did not induce any improvement in positive affect (p = 0.56, d = 0.16) or negative affect (p = 0.23, d = -0.41). Enjoyment ratings were comparable for both exercise formats (HIIT: 4.4 ± 0.4 on a 7-point scale; MICT: 4.3 ± 0.3; p = 0.70, d = 0.15).

Six weeks of HIIT induced improvement in positive affect in sedentary participants with overweight or obesity. Enjoyment of training was only slightly above neutral levels for both training formats.

What’s already known about this topic?
Exercise training can improve general affect however the optimal exercise characteristics for improving affect are unclear.
Studies assessing the relative enjoyment of HIIT in comparison to MICT have largely been equivocal to date.

What does this study add?
HIIT can improve affective state in males with overweight or obesity.
Six weeks of stationary cycling HIIT were rated as only mildly enjoyable, comparable to ratings for MICT.