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), HRmean (151.1 ± 15.2 beats/min, 83.1 ± 10.9 %HRmax), lactate
(80.8%, 5.4 ± 0.9 mmol/L), V̇
O2 (88.6%, 1.9 ± 0.3 L/min, 79.9 ± 10.5% V̇
O2max, 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.