Discuss the fallacy of the "fat burning zone" and the physiological effects of vigorous intensity exercise.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

(Answers may vary.) Though a greater proportion of calories burning during light-intensity exercise is derived from fat compared to vigorous exercise (50 percent versus 30-40 percent) twice as many calories burned overall (and subsequently more fat) occurs during vigorous exercise. Another benefit of vigorous-intensity exercise is that the metabolic rate remains at a slightly higher level longer after the exercise before the body returns to its pre-exercise baseline. Research has shown that subject who perform high-intensity intermittent training lost more body fat than participants in a light- to moderate-intensity continuous aerobic endurance group. Researchers concluded that the "results reinforce the notion that for a given level of energy expenditure, vigorous exercise favors negative energy and lipid balance to a greater extent than exercise of light to moderate intensity. Moreover, the metabolic adaptations taking place in the skeletal muscle in response to the HITT program appear to favor the process of lipid oxidation." In addition, it has been suggested that with attempts to lose weight, particularly by women, lengthy exercise sessions may not be helpful because they trigger greater food consumption following exercise, whereas shorter exercise sessions do not lead to greater caloric intake.