title: Mechanical efficiency improvement in relation to metabolic changes in sedentary obese adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mechanical efficiency (ME) refers to the ability of an individual to transfer energy consumed by external work. This performance indicator is impaired by obesity and is associated with decreased high-intensity exercise performance. However, it is unclear if ME may be improved in response to high intensity training (HIT). This study aimed to determine if ME increases in response to HIT in obese adults and to identify the factors associated with these changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  24 obese adults (body mass index=∼33 kg/m2) were randomised into control (n=12) and trained (n=12) groups. Following baseline metabolic, anthropometric, fitness and ME measurements, the participants completed a 6-week exercise intervention that included 18 sessions of six repeats of 6 s supramaximal sprints on an electromagnetically braked cycle ergometer. The metabolic, anthropometric and fitness assessments were repeated postintervention. ME (expressed as a %) was calculated during an incremental maximal cycling test at stages of 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 W.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ME did not differ across the groups at 25 and 50 W. Following HIT, ME increased significantly at 75, 100 and 125 W (p<0.01, respectively) compared with the control group (p<0.01, respectively). Although no changes in fat-free mass were observed following HIT, the increases in ME at 75, 100 and 125 W correlated positively with both homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index decreases (r=0.9; r=0.89 and r=0.88, p<0.01, respectively) and peak power increases (r=0.87, r=0.88 and r=0.9, p<0.01, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there were no changes in the participants' anthropometric variables, HIT improved ME in obese adults, an enhancement that appears to be related to increases in muscle strength and metabolic adaptations.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences and Community Services , School of Kinesiology and Leisure, Université de Moncton , Moncton , Canada.
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jabbour
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences and Community Services , School of Kinesiology and Leisure, Université de Moncton , Moncton , Canada.
authors.forename: Horia-Daniel
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Iancu
keywords: Exercise; Obesity; Physical fitness