Researchers at the University of Hong Kong have found that 75 minutes of interval brisk walking once a week is effective in combating abdominal obesity and improving heart function, reports infohub.kz.
The results of the study, focused on reducing fat around the waist, were published in the journal Nature Communications. Specialists from the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong conducted a four-month experiment involving 315 adult volunteers with visceral obesity.
Participants were divided into groups: the first engaged in interval brisk walking for 75 minutes in a single weekly session, the second split the same time into three sessions, and the third attended health lectures. The interval sessions alternated between high and low intensity.
After 16 weeks, measurements showed that both exercise groups equally reduced waist circumference and overall body fat percentage, and improved cardiovascular health compared to the control group.
Lead researcher Professor Parco Siu Ming-fai noted that this format offers a convenient alternative for people with busy schedules who struggle to find time for multiple workouts per week.