Study shows quick workouts help improve insulin sensitivity

LONDON A study published earlier this week in the online journal BMC Endocrine Disorders found that less than eight minutes per week of high-intensity exercise substantially improved insulin sensitivity in healthy, sedentary people.

The study involved 16 young men who performed two weeks of high-intensity interval training. Study participants were given an oral glucose test before and after the two-week training period. In the later test, the amount of time the men's blood sugar and blood insulin levels were above normal was reduced by 12% and 37%, respectively.

“This novel time-efficient training paradigm can be used as a strategy to reduce metabolic risk factors in young and middle aged sedentary populations who otherwise would not adhere to time consuming traditional aerobic exercise regimes,” the authors concluded.