You are here

Article Text

Article menu
PDF
Editorial
High-intensity interval training: key data needed to bridge the gap from laboratory to public health policy
  1. Stuart R Gray1,
  2. Carrie Ferguson2,
  3. Karen Birch2,
  4. Laura J Forrest3,
  5. Jason M R Gill1
  1. 1 Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
  2. 2 School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
  3. 3 Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, University of West of Scotland, Hamilton, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Stuart R Gray, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK; stuart.gray{at}glasgow.ac.uk

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-095705

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    The World Health Organization and a number of national bodies recommend adults undertake at least 150 min/week of moderate intensity physical activity, or 75 min/week of vigorous intensity physical activity. However, a large proportion of the population do not achieve these targets. Lack of time is often cited as a primary barrier,1 and many researchers have suggested that high-intensity interval training (HIIT), with interval durations from 10 s to 4 min and intensities ranging from 85% maximal heart rate (HRmax) to ‘all out’ efforts, may provide a time-efficient solution to improve public health.2

    A wealth of evidence has demonstrated that HIIT can elicit a range of health benefits such as improved cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin sensitivity and vascular function, with these benefits being of at least a similar magnitude to those seen with standard moderate intensity physical activity interventions.3 ,4 These data are clear and convincing. However, they largely emanate from …

    View Full Text

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    Copyright information:

    Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/