# A comparative analysis of energy expenditure and substrate metabolism in male university students with overweight/obesity: Tabata vs HIIT and MICT

PMID: 38476670
Journal: Frontiers in Endocrinology
Published: 2024
Authors: Wang Y, Fan C, Cheng L, Wang Y, Peng D, Li F, Han Y, Wang H

## Question

How do acute Tabata, cycling HIIT, and moderate-intensity continuous cycling differ in energy expenditure and substrate oxidation in male university students with overweight or obesity?

## Summary

In a small acute crossover study of male university students with overweight or obesity, a 4-minute bodyweight Tabata session produced the highest energy-expenditure and fat-oxidation rates, but much lower total energy expenditure than 20-minute cycling HIIT or 30-minute moderate cycling. The study measured short-term metabolism only and should not be treated as weight-loss evidence.

## Population

- Male university students with overweight or obesity and no regular exercise habits.
- Sample size: 15
- Age: 22.85 +/- 2.40 years
- Sex: Male
- Fitness level: No regular exercise habits
- Health status: Overweight/obesity; non-smokers without diabetes or metabolic disorders

## Methodology

- Randomized acute crossover experiment
- Single-session conditions separated by 7 days
- Laboratory exercise testing with respiratory gas analysis
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Tabata.
- Modality: Bodyweight calisthenic circuit.
- Work intervals: 20 seconds.
- Recovery: 10 seconds.
- Sets or repetitions: Four exercises repeated for 2 sets.
- Intensity: Maximal/very high effort; observed HR about 174 bpm and RPE about 17.
- Session duration: 4 minutes.
- Frequency: One acute test session.
- Program length: Acute crossover condition.
- Progression: No progression; single acute bout.
- Cycling HIIT and MICT.
- Modality: Stationary cycling.
- Work intervals: HIIT: 3 minutes at 80% VO2max; MICT: continuous cycling.
- Recovery: HIIT: 2 minutes at 20% VO2max; MICT: none.
- Sets or repetitions: HIIT: 4 intervals; MICT: 30 minutes continuous.
- Intensity: HIIT 80%/20% VO2max; MICT 50% VO2max.
- Session duration: HIIT 20 minutes; MICT 30 minutes.
- Frequency: One acute test session per condition.
- Program length: Acute crossover condition.
- Progression: No progression.

## Outcomes

### EE rate
Status: improved
Tabata produced the highest energy-expenditure rate.

Whole-period EE rate: Tabata 5.76 +/- 0.74 kcal/min, HIIT 4.81 +/- 0.25, MICT 3.45 +/- 0.25; Tabata greater than HIIT p<0.01 and MICT p<0.001.

### Total EE
Status: worse/safety concern
Tabata produced much less total energy expenditure because it lasted only 4 minutes.

Whole-period EE amount: Tabata 91.48 +/- 14.91 kcal vs HIIT 248.32 +/- 13.32 and MICT 252.07 +/- 19.02, p<0.001.

### Fat oxidation rate
Status: improved
Tabata had the highest whole-period fat-oxidation rate.

Tabata 0.27 +/- 0.03 g/min vs HIIT 0.20 +/- 0.04, p<0.05, and MICT 0.20 +/- 0.03, p<0.001.

### HR and RPE
Status: mixed
Tabata was physiologically and perceptually harder than the other conditions.

Exercise HR: Tabata 173.80 +/- 4.31, HIIT 158.53 +/- 6.62, MICT 121.33 +/- 6.01 bpm; RPE: Tabata 17.38 +/- 0.56, HIIT 15.01 +/- 0.62, MICT 12.30 +/- 1.42; p<0.001.

## Practical Insights

- Short Tabata sessions can create high metabolic rates but low total calorie expenditure because the session is brief.
- Acute fat-oxidation rates should not be translated into chronic fat-loss claims.
- Tabata may feel substantially harder than cycling HIIT or moderate cycling in overweight young men.

## Limitations

- Small sample of 15 male students.
- Acute crossover study with no training intervention.
- Mixed modalities confound Tabata bodyweight exercise against cycling protocols.
- No women, older adults, or clinical populations.
- No long-term body composition or health outcomes.

## Safety And Adherence

- Participants avoided intense activity, alcohol, caffeine, smoking, and medications before testing.
- No adverse events were reported in the article.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38476670/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1323093) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10927983/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.