Whether you rest a short or long time between light weightlifting sets, your body releases about the same amount of growth-related hormones right after the workout.
Scientific Claim
In trained individuals, acute hormonal responses to low-load resistance training to failure are not meaningfully different between 30-second and 150-second rest intervals.
Original Statement
“Both groups showed significant (p<0.05) increases in growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 immediately post-workout.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
overstated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study did not statistically compare hormonal responses between groups — only reported within-group changes. Claiming 'not meaningfully different' requires a formal equivalence test, which was not performed.
More Accurate Statement
“In trained individuals, acute hormonal responses to low-load resistance training to failure are associated with significant increases in growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1, with no reported statistical difference between 30-second and 150-second rest intervals.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Acute and Long-term Responses to Different Rest Intervals in Low-load Resistance Training
Even if people rested for 30 seconds or 2.5 minutes between sets, their bodies released about the same amount of growth hormones after lifting light weights to exhaustion — so rest time didn’t matter much for those hormones.