Exercise intensity influences body composition in healthy older adults (2025)

I think it's important to note that this study, at least to my understanding, compared cardio training - not weightlifting or resistance training. Participants did 3 weekly sessions of either low intensity, moderate treadmill excercise or HIIT ( 4-min @ 85–95%, 3min 60-70% ).

I get the feeling some commenters here are misunderstanding this as a lot of the discussions seems to center about weightlifting.

Additionally from what I understood the biggest difference was that the HIIT group lost less muscle while fat loss was roughly the same.

> “High-intensity training reduced fat and maintained lean mass […] though changes were small and not clinically meaningful compared with exercise of lower intensity…”

High intensity does border on leading to injury — just making the wrong move — and you’re back to zero intensity?

Some move all their lives and keep adapting their movements as their age. Others did not move much through the lives and when they hit 60s and they start loosing the mobility, doctors suggest for them to move more, if anything. If you never hiked and you start hiking in your 60s for health reasons. Pick up short flat trails.

I think this results vary depending on whether or not a person exercises regularly. After just six months of training, older adults who do not exercise regularly may see significant changes, but those who exercise regularly are likely to see only minor changes.

“though changes were small and not clinically meaningful compared with exercise of lower intensity and considering measurement error”

I’m genuinely confused. Was there any doubt before this study that sport makes people healthier?

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