Appetite and Energy Intake Regulation in Response to Acute Exercise

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine if energy intake and appetite regulation differ in response to an acute bout of resistance exercise (REx) versus aerobic exercise (AEx).

Methods: Physically inactive adults (n = 24, 35% ± 2% body fat, 50% female) completed three conditions: AEx (walking at 65%-70% heart rate max for 45 min), REx (1 set to failure of 12 exercises), and sedentary control (SED). Each condition was initiated in the postprandial state (35 min after breakfast). Appetite (visual analog scale for hunger, satiety, and prospective food consumption) and hormones (ghrelin, peptide YY (PYY), and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)) were measured before and 30, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min after a standardized breakfast. Area under the curve was calculated using the trapezoid method. Ad libitum energy intake was evaluated at a lunch meal after the 180-min measurements.

Results: No differences in ad libitum energy intake (REx, 991 ± 68; AEx, 937 ± 65; SED, 944 ± 76 kcal; P = 0.50) or appetite ratings (all, P > 0.05) were detected. The area under the curve for ghrelin, PYY, and GLP-1 were all lower after REx versus AEx (ghrelin: 130,737 ± 4928 for REx; 143,708 ± 7500 for AEx (P = 0.006); PYY: 20,540 ± 1177 for REx, 23,812 ± 1592 for AEx (P = 0.001); and GLP-1: 1314 ± 93 for REx, 1615 ± 110 for AEx (P = 0.013)). Neither exercise condition significantly differed from SED.

Conclusions: Acute REx lowers both orexigenic (ghrelin) and anorectic (PYY and GLP-1) gut peptides compared with acute AEx. Ad libitum energy intake did not increase compared with SED in either exercise condition, indicating both exercise modalities have appetite and energy intake suppressing effects. Future work is needed to determine if exercise of differing modalities influences chronic appetite regulation.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03143868.

Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The results of the present study do not constitute endorsement by ACSM. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.

Copyright © 2021 by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Figures

Figure 1.. Study Day Overview

REx: resistance exercise; AEx: aerobic exercise; SED: sedentary control condition; FCI: Food Craving Inventory

Figure 2.. Subjective Appetite Responses

Curves for hunger (A), satiety (C), and PFC (E) and total AUC for hunger (B), satiety (D), and PFC (F). Data are presented as mean±SE Appetite ratings were evaluated with 100 mm visual analogue scales. Exercise occurred between 35–80 minutes post meal. SED: sedentary control; REx: resistance exercise; AEx: aerobic exercise; AUC: area under the curve; PFC: prospective food consumption

Figure 3.. Hormonal appetite responses

Curves for ghrelin (A), PYY (C), and GLP-1 (E) and total AUC for ghrelin (B), PYY (D), and GLP-1 (F). Data are presented as mean±SE . *REx significantly different from AEx (p#AEx significantly different from SED (p<0.05) Exercise occurred between 35–80 minutes post meal. REx: resistance exercise; SED: sedentary control; AEx: aerobic exercise; AUC: area under the curve; PYY: peptide tyrosine tyrosine; GLP-1: glucagon like peptide-1