Very Low Volume Sprint Interval Exercise Suppresses Subjective Appetite, Lowers Acylated Ghrelin, and Elevates GLP-1 in Overweight Individuals: A Pilot Study

Abstract

High-intensity exercise has been shown to elicit a transient suppression of appetite and create a more anorexigenic profile of appetite-associated hormones. It is yet to be fully elucidated whether such a response is observed following very low-volume, intermittent exercise at supramaximal intensity in those who are overweight. Eight overweight individuals (BMI 27.7 ± 1.7 kg·m2) completed resting (REST) and exercise (EX) trials in a counterbalanced order. EX consisted of 4 × 30 s “flat-out” cycling on an ergometer (adapted Wingate test). Two hours post-exercise (or REST), participants were presented with an ad libitum meal. Subjective appetite measures and blood samples were obtained throughout. Subjective appetite, measured using VAS, was significantly lower immediately after exercise compared with REST (38.0 ± 28.5 mm vs. 75.1 ± 26.2 mm, p = 0.018, d = 1.09). This difference remained significant 30 min post-exercise. Acylated ghrelin concentration was suppressed in EX compared with REST immediately post-exercise (113.4 ± 43.0 pg·mL−1 vs. 189.2 ± 91.8 pg·mL−1, p = 0.03, d = 1.07) and remained lower until the ad libitum test-meal. Area-under-the-curve for GLP-1 concentration was significantly greater for EX, versus REST. There was no difference in absolute ad libitum intake or relative energy intake. As little as 4 × 30 s of “flat-out” cycling was sufficient to elicit a transient suppression of appetite and an enduring suppression of plasma acylated ghrelin. Nonetheless, food intake 2-h post-exercise was unaffected.

Acute and Chronic Effects of Exercise on Appetite, Energy Intake and Appetite-Related Hormones: the Modulating Effect of Adiposity, Sex and Habitual Physical Activity

“…In line with evidence in individuals who are lean, exercise-induced anorexia has been reported in studies recruiting individuals with overweight or obesity [57,58]. However, findings are inconsistent.…”

“…Akin to studies in individuals who are lean, reductions in acylated ghrelin and elevations in PYY and GLP-1 have been reported concurrently with a suppression of appetite during exercise [57,58]. However, despite showing a reduction in acylated ghrelin in response to exercise, two studies found that moderate-and high-intensity cycling did not alter circulating PYY concentrations [59,60].…”

“…Subsequent appetiterelated hormone assessments after exercise have also yielded conflicting findings. Specifically, Unick et al [61] demonstrated that GLP-1 concentrations were lower 1 h after a single bout of moderateintensity walking in women with overweight/obesity (BMI 25.0-34.9 kg·m -2 ), yet Holliday and Blannin [58] showed recently that GLP-1 was elevated 1 h after low-volume sprint interval cycling in individuals with overweight or obesity (BMI 25.0-34.9 kg·m -2 ). Other studies have also demonstrated that PYY and PP concentrations are unchanged in the hours after exercise in individuals who are overweight or obese [59,60].…”

The impact of acute bouts of interval and continuous walking on energy‐intake and appetite regulation in subjects with type 2 diabetes

“…() found that the energy‐intake was reduced for 2 days after the exercise session with highest peak intensity, this factor cannot completely explain the differential results. Lastly, it must be noted that other studies, carried out in nondiabetic subjects, have also found that exercise with higher peak intensity does not decrease (Holliday and Blannin ) and may even lead to higher energy‐intake than exercise with lower peak intensity (Pomerleau et al. ; Bilski et al.…”

“…These studies have both evaluated satiety and appetite-related hormones, but studies examining energyintake after exercise in subjects with T2D are lacking. This is important to assess since discrepancies between satiety and appetite-related hormones on one side and energyintake on the other have previously been reported (Bilski et al 2013;King et al 2013;Holliday and Blannin 2017).…”