Resistance training enhances the post-exercise fat oxidation of Tabata-style exercise more than moderate-intensity continuous training in young males with obesity: an acute randomized crossover study
- 1College of Physical Education and Health, Guangxi Normal University
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of three combined exercise protocols, including Tabata-style training combined with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), Tabata-style training combined with resistance training (RT), and MICT combined with RT, on substrate metabolism and energy expenditure in male college students with obesity.
Methods: Forty-three male college students with obesity completed each of the three 30-minute exercise protocols in an acute randomized crossover design. Gas exchange indices were continuously monitored during exercise and during a 30-minute recovery period to calculate fat oxidation, carbohydrate oxidation, and energy expenditure. Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were also recorded.
Results: Although Tabata-style training + MICT elicited the highest exercise-period substrate oxidation and energy expenditure, the relative contribution of fat oxidation to energy expenditure (%Fat) did not differ among the three protocols across the entire observation period (30.09 ± 5.02%, 32.03 ± 6.57%, and 28.86 ± 8.80% for Tabata-style training + RT, Tabata-style training + MICT, and MICT + RT; P = 0.116). During the 30-minute re5covery period, %Fat was highest in Tabata-style training + RT (68.38 ± 8.11%), followed by Tabata-style training + MICT (57.93 ± 10.11%) and MICT + RT (29.28 ± 12.35%), and the fat oxidation rate increased most steeply in Tabata-style training + RT across the 30-minute recovery period (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Compared with MICT + RT, both Tabata-containing protocols showed a fat oxidation advantage during recovery period, and this advantage was greatest for Tabata-style training + RT, which achieved the highest relative contribution of fat oxidation and the steepest rise in the fat oxidation rate during the 30-min recovery. These findings suggest that a Tabata-style exercise, especially when combined with resistance training, may represent an effective acute strategy for enhancing post-exercise fat oxidation in young males with obesity.
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BibTeX
@article{cheng2026resistance,
title = {{Resistance training enhances the post-exercise fat oxidation of Tabata-style exercise more than moderate-intensity continuous training in young males with obesity: an acute randomized crossover study}},
author = {Zhuoyue Cheng and Zhiyu Xiang and Yanbai Han and Tengteng Yu and Zhihao Gao and Yongbo Wang and Yiming Han},
journal = {Frontiers in Endocrinology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fendo.2026.1997068},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1997068/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Resistance training enhances the post-exercise fat oxidation of Tabata-style exercise more than moderate-intensity continuous training in young males with obesity: an acute randomized crossover study
AU - Zhuoyue Cheng
AU - Zhiyu Xiang
AU - Yanbai Han
AU - Tengteng Yu
AU - Zhihao Gao
AU - Yongbo Wang
AU - Yiming Han
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - Frontiers in Endocrinology
DO - 10.3389/fendo.2026.1997068
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2026.1997068/full
AB - Objective: This study aimed to compare the effects of three combined exercise protocols, including Tabata-style training combined with moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT), Tabata-style training combined with resistance training (RT), and MICT combined with RT, on substrate metabolism and energy expenditure in male college students with obesity. Methods: Forty-three male college students with obesity completed each of the three 30-minute exercise protocols in an acute randomized crossover design. Gas exchange indices were continuously monitored during exercise and during a 30-minute recovery period to calculate fat oxidation, carbohydrate oxidation, and energy expenditure. Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were also recorded. Results: Although Tabata-style training + MICT elicited the highest exercise-period substrate oxidation and energy expenditure, the relative contribution of fat oxidation to energy expenditure (%Fat) did not differ among the three protocols across the entire observation period (30.09 ± 5.02%, 32.03 ± 6.57%, and 28.86 ± 8.80% for Tabata-style training + RT, Tabata-style training + MICT, and MICT + RT; P = 0.116). During the 30-minute re5covery period, %Fat was highest in Tabata-style training + RT (68.38 ± 8.11%), followed by Tabata-style training + MICT (57.93 ± 10.11%) and MICT + RT (29.28 ± 12.35%), and the fat oxidation rate increased most steeply in Tabata-style training + RT across the 30-minute recovery period (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with MICT + RT, both Tabata-containing protocols showed a fat oxidation advantage during recovery period, and this advantage was greatest for Tabata-style training + RT, which achieved the highest relative contribution of fat oxidation and the steepest rise in the fat oxidation rate during the 30-min recovery. These findings suggest that a Tabata-style exercise, especially when combined with resistance training, may represent an effective acute strategy for enhancing post-exercise fat oxidation in young males with obesity.
SN - 1664-2392
ER -