Letter | Those Apples Don't Taste Like Oranges! Why 'Equalising' HIIT and MICT Protocols Does Not Make Sense

Letter

Those Apples Don't Taste Like Oranges! Why 'Equalising' HIIT and MICT Protocols Does Not Make Sense

Details

Citation

Vollaard N & Metcalfe R (2021) Those Apples Don't Taste Like Oranges! Why 'Equalising' HIIT and MICT Protocols Does Not Make Sense. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 32 (3), pp. 131-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2020.12.002

Abstract
First paragraph: We read with interest the recent article by Andreato entitled ‘High-Intensity Interval Training: Methodological Considerations for Interpreting Results and Conducting Research’ [1]. We applaud the author’s call for greater clarity in defining and reporting high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols; this is much needed to move the field forward. However, we dispute the author’s principal claim that to avoid bias when comparing HIIT with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), it is necessary to ‘equalise’ (match) sessions for energy expenditure (or workload performed, as a proxy for energy expenditure). Upon reading the article, we failed to find any sound justification for this assertion.

Keywords
high-intensity interval training; sprint interval training; moderate-intensity continuous training

Journal
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: Volume 32, Issue 3