Exercise, appetite and appetite-regulating hormones: implications for food intake and weight control

Area of Science:

• Exercise physiology
• Endocrinology
• Appetite regulation

Background:

• Appetite regulation involves episodic and tonic hormones like ghrelin, insulin, and leptin.
• Ghrelin stimulates appetite, while peptide YY and glucagon-like peptide 1 promote satiety.
• Understanding exercise's impact on appetite is crucial for athletes and weight management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the relationship between exercise and appetite regulation.
• To explore the hormonal mechanisms underlying appetite changes after exercise.
• To discuss the implications for athletes and weight loss strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing scientific literature on exercise and appetite hormones.
• Analysis of studies investigating acute and chronic exercise effects.
• Examination of hormonal responses, including ghrelin, peptide YY, and glucagon-like peptide 1.

Main Results:

• Acute exercise transiently suppresses appetite ('exercise-induced anorexia'), possibly via reduced ghrelin and increased satiety hormones.
• Chronic exercise training may lead to partial, incomplete appetite compensation.
• Individual variability exists in appetite response to exercise.

Conclusions:

• Exercise, particularly acute bouts, can suppress appetite and contribute to negative energy balance for weight loss.
• Athletes are unlikely to experience significant overeating due to exercise.
• Postprandial exercise may enhance satiety, but further research is needed.