Background:
High-intensity interval aerobic training with high-intensity resistance training (HIIT+HR) is a form of training that may reduce the negative health consequences of obesity in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). We aimed to compare the efficacy of 8 weeks of HIIT+HR with moderate-intensity continuous aerobic training with moderate-intensity resistance training (MICT+MR) and with control on body composition in patients with T2D.
Methods:
Twenty-seven adults (60±7 years) with overweight/obesity (BMI=31.5±68.9kg/m2) and T2D (glycated haemoglobin [HbA1c] 63±13 mmol/mol [7.9±1.3%]) were randomised into 8 weeks of either HIIT+HR (n=9), MICT+MR (n=11), or control (n=7). HIIT+HR employed aerobic exercise at 85-95% of peak heart rate (HRpeak) for four minutes followed by high-intensity resistance training (Rate of Perceived Exertion [RPE] ≥17) involving eight exercises for 1-minute each, 3/7. MICT+MR involved 150 mins/week of aerobic exercise at 55-69% of HRpeak and 60 mins/week of moderate-intensity resistance training (RPE 11-13), 4/7. Control participants received usual care. Trunk fat mass (TFM), trunk fat percentage (TF%), total fat mass (FM), body fat percentage (BF%), and lean body mass (LBM) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). ANCOVA was used to determine differences in change scores between groups using the baseline value as the covariate. Values are reported as means±SD.
Results:
A significant between-group difference was observed with HIIT+HR (mean change from baseline of 2.2±1.9%; p=0.003) and a trend towards significance was observed for MICT+MR (0.5±1.7%; p=0.068) compared to controls (-1.9±3.2%) for LBM. There were no significant between-group differences with the HIIT+HR, MICT+MR or control groups for change in TFM (0.1±9.2%, 0.01±2.7%, and 2.2±6.6%, respectively), TF% (-1.1±5.3%, -0.1±2.6%, and 2.3±5.6%), FM (-0.1±7.3%, -0.6±2.6%, and 1.9±7.4%), and BF% (-1.3±4.2%, -0.7±2.5%, and 2.5±5.9%).
Conclusion:
HIIT+HR significantly improves LBM in patients with T2D compared to controls; however, there were no between group differences for measures of body adiposity.
Trial Registration: ACTRN12615000475549.