Energy expenditure and physical activity responses to football for health training in adults with metabolic syndrome: a randomized clinical trial
This investigation determined the energy expenditure (EE), physical activity (PA), and physiological responses of football for health training (FFH). Twenty middle-aged males with metabolic syndrome (MetS) completed a 60-min FFH and a control trial using a randomized crossover design. The FFH load and EE were determined using a mobile gas analyzer, heart rate (HR) monitors, blood lactate measurements, a global positioning system, and accelerometry. Participants in FFH run a total distance of ~3.800 m (1,121 m at > 7 km/h, accelerations of 141 m, decelerations of 162 m) using a mean and maximal speed of 4.1 km/h and 20.6 km/h, respectively. FFH demonstrated a moderate-to-vigorous PA of > 41 min and a step count of ~4900. FFH increased (p < .001) the perceived exertion (55.8%, 13.6 ± 2.6), HR<sub>mean</sub> (151.1 ± 15.2 beats/min, 83.1 ± 10.9 %HRmax), lactate (80.8%, 5.4 ± 0.9 mmol/L), <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mtext>V</mml:mtext> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> <mml:mtext>O</mml:mtext></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> (88.6%, 1.9 ± 0.3 L/min, 79.9 ± 10.5% <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mtext>V</mml:mtext> <mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover> <mml:mtext>O</mml:mtext></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mn>2</mml:mn> <mml:mi>max</mml:mi></mml:mrow> </mml:msub> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> , 6.7 ± 0.8 METs), breathing frequency (32.6 ± 3.0 breaths/min), and respiratory exchange ratio (0.98 ± 0.03) compared to the control trial. Total EE reached 524.2 ± 81.0 kcals (mitochondrial energy production: 476.8 kcals; anaerobic energy production: AS 5.4 ± 1.0 kcals; EPOC: 42.0 ± 11.8 kcals). The present results suggest that FFH meets the international PA and EE standards for adults with MetS, with participants taking part in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) for approximately 68% of each session, rendering it a suitable and efficient strategy to lower cardiometabolic risk.
Authors
- Panagiotis Tsimeas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5498-3119)
- Niki Syrou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0849-7272)
- Magni Mohr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5611-4504)
- Athanasios Poulios (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3912-0045)
- George S. Metsios (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5359-0436)
- Κωνσταντίνος Παπανικολάου (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5062-9881)
- Athanasios Chatzinikolaou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4238-7632)
- Aggelos Pappas
- Athanasios Z. Jamurtas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5115-9490)
- Peter Krustrup (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1461-9838)
- Dimitrios Draganidis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2773-7729)
- Ioannis G. Fatouros (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8475-8411)
- Georgios Ermιdis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3804-0131)
- Αθανάσιος Τσιόκανος (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2746-6201)
- Lambros Tsiokanos
Institutions
- University of the Faroe Islands (FO)
- University of Thessaly (GR)
- Democritus University of Thrace (GR)
- University of Southern Denmark (DK)
- University of Exeter (GB)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Biology of Sport
- Published
- 2025-10-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.154146
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Physical Activity and Health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.16