8 Intense seconds for weight loss and "spot reduction"

Get this for interesting: I was listening to the news on the radio yesterday and heard about some new research regardng weight loss.

Scientists at the University of NSW and the Garvan Institute have devised a workout that burns three times the amount of fat than a longer, less intense workout.

Basically, they found that their specific brand of interval training prompts the body to click into a metabolic response that allows more fat to be burned under the skin and within the muscles.
The study was conducted on 45 overweight women over 15 weeks, and it put them through a 20 minute cycling regime in which they sprinted on a stationary bike for eight seconds followed by 12 seconds of cycling lightly.

The study results showed that the women on the 8 second interval training progamme lost three times more weight as other women who exercised at a continuous, regular pace for 40 minutes.

The study also showed that the system produced "spot reduction" in thighs and buttocks for the women, and the hope is that it also help spot reduce for men in the chest and abdominal areas.

Insulin resistance was also affected significantly (dragged down by 32%), which is a good thing for Diabetics

Sounds too good to be true, and I'm sure we'll hear more shortly.

So now:

1. spot reduction may be possible after all - and what woman or man wouldn't like the thought of that??!
2. Much of the fitness industry that has survived for so long on the premise of the "Fat Burning Zone" will have to rethink it's marketing
3. I have more work to do to find out more about this research and report back