High-intensity interval training elicits more enjoyment and positive affective valence than moderate-intensity training over a 12-week intervention in overweight young women

• Published in: Journal of exercise science and fitness 2022-07, Vol.20 (3), p.249-255
• Main Authors: Li, Feifei, Kong, Zhaowei, Zhu, Xiangui, Chow, Bik Chu, Zhang, Dandan, Liang, Wei, Shang, Borui, Liu, Yang, Zhang, Haifeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Affective valence; Enjoyment; High-intensity interval training; Moderate-intensity continuous training; Pleasure; Repeated sprint interval training; Special Section on High-intensity Interval Training for Health and Performance
• ISSN: 1728-869X; 2226-5104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jesf.2022.05.001

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in enjoyment and affect in response to four weight control intervention protocols over 12 weeks. Sixty overweight young females were randomised into four intervention groups: repeated sprint training (RST, 6-sec all-out sprint interspersed with 9-sec rest), high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with short interval (HIIT120, 1-min effort at 120% V̇O2peak) and long interval (HIIT90, 4-min effort at 90% V̇O2peak), and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT, 60% V̇O2peak) by cycling over 12 weeks. The total workload in each training session in HIIT120, HIIT90, and MICT was confined to 200 kJ, while it was lower in RST with 57 ± 4 kJ. Enjoyment (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, PACES) and affective valence (Feeling Scale, FS) were measured throughout the intervention. The score of the PACES on average over 12 weeks showed a significant between-group effect that was lower in MICT (80.8 ± 11.8) compared with HIIT120 (92.5 ± 11.4) and HIIT90 (96.8 ± 13.9) (p