Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare total calorie expenditure [activity expenditure + EPOC (excessive post-exercise oxygen consumption)] (n = 10) when doing 1) a 30-minute tempo run at 65% VO2màx and 2) 30 minutes of interval training with 15 one-minute activities working at 90% of VO2màx followed by a minute of passive rest in the standing position. Ten sports science students (age: 23 ± 2.8 years, weight: 70 ± 8.8 kg, height: 175.7 ± 5.2 cm) took part in the study and the study tests were conducted on a treadmill. All the subjects performed both tests on non-consecutive days. Their HR was recorded continuously during exercise. Expired gases were analyzed with a standard gas analyzer. The results showed similar total work with no significant differences (CON: 358.60 ± 70.82 kJ, INT: 352.99 ± 63.56 kJ), total calorie expenditure was higher (P = 0.037) in interval (398.5 ± 98.5 kcal) than in continuous (343.2 ± 75.3 kcal) and calorie expenditure in recovery was higher (P = 0.031) in interval (85 ± 66.8 kcal) than in continuous (43.5 ± 26.8 kcal). In conclusion, this study shows that the total caloric expenditure is greater in high intensity interval exercise than in low-intensity continuous exercise for equal times and workloads. Furthermore, caloric expenditure in interval exercise is greater both during exercise and during recovery.