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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

A Real-World High-Intensity Interval Training Protocol for Cardiorespiratory Fitness Improvement
Published on: February 22, 2022
Energy compensation after sprint- and high-intensity interval training
Matthew M Schubert1,2, Elyse Palumbo1, Rebekah F Seay2,3
1Department of Kinesiology, California State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, United States of America.
Individuals show varied energy compensation responses to interval training, impacting weight loss. Lower energy compensation is linked to better improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and non-exercise physical activity.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Human Metabolism
- Sports Science
Background:
- Weight management interventions often yield suboptimal results due to energy compensation.
- Energy compensation can manifest as increased energy intake or decreased non-exercise physical activity (NEPA).
- Interval training is a popular exercise modality, but individual responses vary.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the extent of energy compensation in response to interval training.
- To identify factors associated with varying energy compensation levels.
- To understand the relationship between energy compensation and changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and NEPA.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 24 healthy adults who completed 4 weeks of interval training.
- Calculation of energy compensation from changes in body composition and exercise energy expenditure.
- Assessment of differences between high and low energy compensation groups using linear regressions.
Main Results:
- Significant individual variability in energy compensation was observed.
- High energy compensators experienced fat mass gain and loss of fat-free mass.
- Low energy compensation was associated with greater improvements in VO2max and NEPA.
Conclusions:
- Short-term interval training elicits diverse energy compensation responses.
- Increased VO2max and NEPA correlate with lower energy compensation.
- Further research is needed to explore dose-response relationships and individual mechanisms driving energy compensation.
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