Nutritional compensation to exercise- vs. diet-induced acute energy deficit in adolescents with obesity

- Obese adolescents increase intake in response to energy deficit.
- A 25% exercise-energy deficit leads to higher overall intake than a similar diet one.
- The extent for the deficit might be responsible for the compensatory intake.

BackgroundTo compare the energy and macronutrient intake responses to equivalent energy deficits induced by diet (food restriction) and exercise in adolescents with obesity.MethodsFourteen 12-15 years old obese adolescents completed three experimental conditions (08:00 am to 07:30 pm) in a randomized crossover design: i) control session (CON); ii) diet-induced 25% energy depletion (Def-EI), iii) and an exercise-induced 25% energy depletion (Def-EX). The sessions order was either CON/Def-EI/Def-EX or CON/Def-EX/Def-EI as the deficit corresponded to 25% of the energy ingested at lunch on the control day (CON) and was imposed either by exercise (Def-EX) or diet (Def-EI). Ad libitum EI and macronutrients preferences were assessed at dinner and appetite sensations assessed using visual analogue scales.ResultsMean BMI was 36.6 ± 5.0 kg/m2 (z-BMI: 2.40 ± 0.29). The individually calibrated 25% energy deficit represented 254 ± 92 kcal. Ad libitum EI was significantly higher during both Def-EX (971 ± 225 kcal) and Def-EI (949 ± 246 kcal) compared with CON (742 ± 297) (p < 0.05). The relative energy ingested derived from fat was significantly higher on both Def-EX (36.6 ± 10.9%) and Def-EI (36.9 ± 13.1%) compared with CON (21.6 ± 7.8%) (p < 0.05). The energy derived from carbohydrates was significantly lower on both Def-EX (48.3 ± 9.0%) and Def-EI (44.4 ± 17.3%) compare with CON (61.1 ± 10.1%) (p < 0.05). Appetite sensations were not different between conditions. The induced energy deficit was negatively correlated with the ad libitum EI difference between the exercise and the control session (EI Def-EX - EI CON) (r = − 0,643 p < 0.05) and positively correlated with the EI difference between the dietary restriction and the control session (EI Def-EI - EI CON) (r = 0,569 p < 0.05).ConclusionEquicaloric exercise- or diet-induced energy deficits could lead to similar EI compensation in obese adolescents but this EI compensation might be influenced by the magnitude of the deficit.