HIIT may help older adults lose fat while preserving muscle

• A study suggests high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can reduce body fat most effectively without compromising muscle mass in older adults.
• Moderate- and low-intensity exercise may also help reduce fat, but might lead to some muscle loss.
• The findings may help tailor exercise recommendations for healthy aging.

Body composition describes the relative proportions of lean body mass (muscles, bones, skin, organs, and water) and body fat mass. Unlike body mass index (BMI), body composition can offer a more precise measure of health and fitness.

As people age, there is a natural increase in fat mass and a gradual decline in lean mass. This can increase the risk of certain health conditions, such as cardiometabolic diseases, osteopenia or osteoporosis, and sarcopenia.

Healthcare professionals routinely recommend that older adults engage in regular physical activity to promote health and prevent changes in body composition. However, evidence for which exercises are best for improving body composition among older adults remains sparse, with most research focusing on younger populations.

New research from Australia goes some way toward filling that gap. A study published in Maturitas suggests that high intensity interval training (HIIT) may be the optimal exercise for helping older adults to reduce body fat while preserving muscle mass.