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March 2001, Volume 25, Number 3, Pages 332-339
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Paper
Impact of high-intensity exercise on energy expenditure, lipid oxidation and body fatness
M Yoshioka1, E Doucet1,3, S St-Pierre1, N Alméras1, D Richard2, A Labrie2, J P Després3, C Bouchard4 and A Tremblay1

1Division of Kinesiology, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada

2Department of Physiology and Anatomy, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada

3Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada

4Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Correspondence to: A Tremblay, Division of Kinesiology, Physical Activity Sciences Laboratory, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada G1K 7P4. E-mail: angelo.tremblay@kin.msp.ulaval.ca

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Two studies were conducted to assess the potential of an increase in exercise intensity to alter energy and lipid metabolism and body fatness under conditions mimicking real life.

METHODS: Study 1 was based on the comparison of adiposity markers obtained in 352 male healthy adults who participated in the Québec Family Study who either regularly participated in high-intensity physical activities or did not. Study 2 was designed to determine the effects of high-intensity exercise on post-exercise post-prandial energy and lipid metabolism as well as the contribution of beta-adrenergic stimulation to such differences under a real-life setting.

RESULTS: Results from Study 1 showed that men who regularly take part in intense physical activities display lower fat percentage and subcutaneous adiposity than men who never perform such activities, and this was true even if the latter group reported a lower energy intake (917 kJ/day, P<0.05). In Study 2, the high-intensity exercise stimulus produced a greater post-exercise post-prandial oxygen consumption as well as fat oxidation than the resting session, an effect which disappeared with the addition of propranolol. In addition, the increase in post-prandial oxygen consumption observed after the high-intensity exercise session was also significantly greater than that promoted by the low-intensity exercise session.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high-intensity exercise favors a lesser body fat deposition which might be related to an increase in post-exercise energy metabolism that is mediated by beta-adrenergic stimulation.

International Journal of Obesity (2001) 25, 332-339

Keywords

high-intensity exercise; energy and lipid balance; propranolol

Received 27 August 1999; revised 4 September 2000; accepted 4 October 2000
March 2001, Volume 25, Number 3, Pages 332-339
Table of contents    Previous  Abstract  Next   Full text  PDF
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