The effects of acute aerobic exercise on appetite-regulating parameters and energy intake in males with obesity

To investigate the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on appetite control parameters, appetite perceptions, and energy intake in sedentary males with obesity.

Eleven males with obesity (body fat percentage 36.5 ± 2.5%, body mass index 35.3 ± 4.2 kg/m², V̇O_2peak 29 ± 3.1 mL·kg^-1·min^-1) completed two experimental sessions: (1) no exercise (CTRL) and (2) 60 min of moderate-intensity cycling exercise at 60% V̇O_2peak (MICT) in a crossover design. Blood analysis included growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), total ghrelin, peptide tyrosine tyrosine_3-36 (PYY_3-36), total glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), insulin, and glucose, as well as subjective appetite perceptions were measured in specific intervals. A standard breakfast at 0 h and an ad libitum meal postexercise was provided.

GDF-15 (95% confidence interval [CI]: [2.48-27.28] ng/L, p = 0.021) increased immediately following MICT compared to CTRL. However, there were no differences for PYY_3-36 (p = 0.480, ${\eta }_p^2=0.025$ ), total ghrelin (p = 0.646, ${\eta }_p^2=0.011$ ), and total GLP-1 (p = 0.451, ${\eta }_p^2=0.029$ ) between sessions. Appetite perceptions (95% CI: [(-20.38)-(-6.16)] mm, p = 0.001) were suppressed following MICT though energy intake was not different between the sessions (95% CI: [(-1904.9)-928.1] kJ, p = 0.480).

Sixty minutes of MICT increased GDF-15 while suppressing appetite perceptions in individuals with obesity. There was no energy compensation postexercise.