A team of Japanese researchers have reported that a study conducted by them has revealed that people are likely to burn more fat if they sit down for 20 minutes between two 30 minute exercise periods than people who exercise continuously for one hour.
The researchers tested the blood of the participants during and after exercise. The workout that was split into two half hour segments resulted in more fat being broken down than the workout that continued without a break. The second half hour workout also demonstrated a greater boost to epinephrine and a decrease in insulin as a result of lower plasma concentrations of glucose. The researchers are assuming that these chemical events are related to fat breakdown but this will require further study.
The study was based on a small sample but it might be worth giving it a go – apart from a lot of pounds, what have you got to lose!