EPOC Comparison between Isocaloric Bouts of Steady-State Aerobic, Intermittent Aerobic, and Resistance Training

Purpose: Excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) is dependent on intensity, duration, and mode of exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of both exercise mode and intensity on EPOC while controlling for caloric expenditure and duration. Method: Ten low to moderately physically active men (22 ± 2 yrs) performed 3 nonrandomized isocaloric bouts of exercise separated by 7 days. The 1st session was resistance training (RT), followed by moderate-intensity steady-state (SS) aerobic exercise, and concluding with a high-intensity intermittent (IT) aerobic session. Results: Total energy expenditure, rate of energy expenditure, and duration did not differ among trials (p>0.05). Respiratory exchange ratio was greater during the RT trial than the SS trial (p < 0.05). At 12 hr postexercise, resting metabolic rate (RMR) was higher after the RT trial (4.7 ± 0.67 mL/kg/min) and IT trial (4.6 ± 0.62 mL/kg/min) compared with their respective baseline measurements (p < 0.008) and the SS trial (4.3 ± 0.58 mL/kg/min; p < 0.008). At 21 hr postexercise, RMR was higher after the RT trial (3.7 ± 0.51 mL/kg/min) and IT trial (3.5 ± 0.39 mL/kg/min) compared with the SS trial (3.2 ± 0.38 mL/kg/min; p < 0.008). The SS trial did not influence RMR at either 12 hr or 21 hr postexercise. Conclusion: Both RT and IT aerobic work increased EPOC to a greater degree than did SS work, indicating that either mode may be more effective at increasing total daily caloric expenditure than SS aerobic exercise.