HIIT OR MISS?

In a world where personal and professional commitments drag us in all directions, time is tighter and more precious than ever. For anyone looking to get in shape, that means getting a big calorie burn out of a quicker workout seems a no-brainer: why spend an hour breaking a sweat, when you can achieve just as much in half that period? This time-saving approach is one factor behind the surge in popularity of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in recent years. But as studies emerge questioning the true efficiency of this training method, along with the potential risks it poses, it’s time to assess whether HIIT is really worth the strain.

BUT WHAT IS HIIT?

The clue’s in the name: high-intensity interval training means working hard – really hard – for short efforts.) says “sessions tend to be short, usually less than half an hour in duration.” If it’s not tough, Buckley says, “you need to push yourself harder.” While forms of interval training have been used by Olympic athletes for almost a century, HIIT’s mainstream popularity has, according to Buckley, only taken off in the last decade.