Once and thrice weekly interval training in adults with central obesity: randomized controlled trial

A new study conducted by researchers at the School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) has demonstrated that once-weekly brisk interval training can significantly reduce body fat and improve cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with central obesity, achieving results comparable to the traditional three-session-per-week exercise program.

Published in Nature Communications, the randomized clinical trial involved 315 adults with overweight and central obesity. Participants completed a total of 75 minutes of interval training per week, either in a single weekly session or spread across three sessions. 

After 16 weeks, both training protocols produced similar improvements in body composition, waist circumference, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

The findings suggest that a once-weekly interval training program may represent a practical and effective alternative for individuals who face time constraints, while still delivering clinically meaningful health benefits.

As part of the study, researchers assessed participants' cardiorespiratory fitness using COSMED metabolic cart, ensuring accurate measurement of physiological responses to exercise and reinforcing the importance of gold-standard cardiopulmonary assessment in clinical research.

The study further highlights the growing role of COSMED technologies in supporting high-quality scientific research and advancing evidence-based approaches to exercise physiology and obesity management.