Effects of active commuting and leisure-time exercise on appetite in individuals with overweight and obesity

Abstract

Acute exercise is associated with a transient suppression of appetite. The effects of regular exercise on appetite are not well understood. We aimed to determine the effects of active commuting and leisure-time exercise on appetite. One hundred thirty physically inactive women and men (20–45 yr) with overweight and obesity were randomized to 6 mo of habitual lifestyle (CON, n = 18), active commuting (BIKE, n = 35), or leisure-time exercise of moderate [MOD, 50% peak oxygen uptake (V̇o2peak)-reserve, n = 39] or vigorous (VIG, 70% V̇o2peak-reserve, n = 38) intensity. Appetite ratings, acylated ghrelin, cholecystokinin (CCK), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and glucagon were assessed in the basal state and in response to meal and exercise challenges at baseline and 3 and 6 mo. Ad libitum energy intake was determined during test meals. Data from 90 participants (per protocol) were available, and results are comparisons with CON. At 3 mo, ad libitum energy intake was lower in VIG (−22%, P < 0.01), basal glucagon was lower in BIKE ( P < 0.05) and VIG ( P = 0.01), and postprandial ratings of prospective food consumption were lower in MOD ( P = 0.02) and VIG ( P < 0.001). In VIG, ratings of hunger ( P = 0.01) and prospective food consumption ( P = 0.03) were lower after acute exercise at 3 mo. At 6 mo, basal and postprandial GLP-1 were higher ( P ≤ 0.04) whereas postexercise PYY was lower ( P = 0.03) in VIG and postexercise CCK was lower in BIKE ( P = 0.03). Vigorous-intensity exercise training leads to a transient suppression of energy intake and subjective appetite (3 mo) but a more long-term increase in basal and postprandial GLP-1 (6 mo) in individuals with overweight and obesity. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first randomized controlled trial, to our knowledge, investigating long-term effects of exercise domain and intensity on subjective and hormonal markers of appetite and ad libitum energy intake in individuals with overweight and obesity. Appetite was assessed in response to meal and exercise challenges at baseline and at 3 and 6 mo. Anorexigenic effects of exercise vary with the duration of intervention and are restricted to regular leisure-time exercise of vigorous intensity in individuals with overweight and obesity.

Effects of Exercise Domain and Intensity on Sleep in Women and Men with Overweight and Obesity

“…The results on fat loss [15], appetite [16], low-grade inflammation and endothelial function [17], and fibrin turnover [18] in GO-ACTIWE have been reported elsewhere. We followed the methods previously described in details in Rosenkilde et al [14] and Quist et al [15], but in order to facilitate reading, we present a detailed description of the methodology relevant for the present analysis.…”

“…Sleep duration was assessed from accelerometry (Actigraph GT3x, Actigraph Corp., Pensacola, Florida, USA) for 8 nights. Measurements were initiated during a test day including meal and exercise challenges [16], and the first night was omitted to avoid potential influence of these stimuli on subsequent sleep, leaving 7 nights for analysis. Participants were instructed to wear the accelerometer at the waist for 24 h/day and were only allowed to take it off during water activities.…”

Habitual physical activity is associated with lower fasting and greater glucose-induced GLP-1 response in men

“…A few longitudinal studies have investigated the medium- and long-term effects (≥3 months) of regular exercise interventions on GLP-1 secretion in overweight individuals (18, 25, 26). In a recent randomized controlled trial, Quist and colleagues reported higher fasting and postprandial GLP-1 concentrations after 6 months of vigorous exercise 5 days/week (25), and in a comparable study from 2007, Martins et al found a tendency towards an increase in the delayed (90–180 min) postprandial GLP-1 response in overweight individuals after 12 weeks of regular exercise at vigorous intensity (18). These increased postprandial responses are in line with our findings, although we found that moderate intensity is enough for physical activity to be associated with greater GLP-1 response to glucose.…”

“…These increased postprandial responses are in line with our findings, although we found that moderate intensity is enough for physical activity to be associated with greater GLP-1 response to glucose. However, Quist et al found that neither active commuting nor exercise at moderate intensity affected GLP-1 secretion (25). Also, the findings of increased fasting levels of GLP-1 after 6 months of regular vigorous exercise are in contrast to our findings, where we show fasting levels to be lower with more time spent being physically active.…”

“…Also the effects of exercise on secretion of gastrointestinal hormones like GLP-1 have been investigated (15). In normal-weight adults, postprandial GLP-1 responses are suggested to increase after acute exercise (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) whereas studies in individuals with overweight show contradicting results of unaffected, increased, or reduced GLP-1 responses after acute exercise (17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27). The contradicting findings between studies are likely due to different participant characteristics (e.g.…”