Appetite and Energy Intake Regulation in Response to Acute Exercise

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.

Automated summary

This study compared the effects of resistance exercise (REx) and aerobic exercise (AEx) on energy intake and appetite regulation, finding that REx significantly decreases orexigenic (ghrelin) and anorectic (PYY and GLP-1) gut peptides, but does not increase ad libitum energy intake. Both exercise modalities have appetite and energy intake suppressing effects.