The effect of high-Intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on serum irisin levels and insulin resistance in overweight men

Obesity and overweight can be considered as important factors due to their effect on metabolic disorders. Therefore, the aim of the present research was to study the effect of intermittent intense and continuous moderate intensity training on serum irisin levels and insulin resistance in overweight men.

In the current study, 30 men with an average age of 38.6±3.98 years and a body mass index of 28.5±6.17 kg/m2 were selected and randomly divided into three equal groups including intense interval training, continuous tranining with moderate intensity and control. The training including Intense intermittent and moderate intensity continuous training were performed for eight weeks and repeated three sessions a week. Before and after eight weeks of training, the subjects’ blood samples were collected and the serum irisin and lipid profile were measured using ELISA and calorimetric methods, respectively. Then, intra-group changes were evaluated using the dependent t-test and extra-group changes were evaluated with one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni test at a significance level of p<0.05.

The improvement of irisin serum levels and insulin resistance was observed in both training groups compared to the control group, so that the changes were more obvious in the continuous training group than the intense intermittent training group. Also, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly in both training groups compared to the control group, while these changes were not significant between training groups. Moreover, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly reduced in both training groups compared to the control group, so that this reduction was significantly greater in the intense intermittent training group than continuous training group.

The current study showed that intermittent and continuous trainings can be considered as a important training, because of effectiveness on irisin, insulin resistance and some variables of lipid profile; they can be very useful in reducing complications caused by overweight.