Acute exercise increases feeding latency in healthy normal weight young males but does not alter energy intake

This study investigated the acute influence of exercise on eating behaviour in an ecologically valid setting whereby healthy active males were permitted complete ad libitum access to food. Ten healthy males completed two, 8 h trials (exercise and control) in a randomised-crossover design. In the exercise trials participants consumed a breakfast snack and then rested for 1 h before undertaking a 60 min run (72% of V˙O2 max) on a treadmill. Participants then rested in the laboratory for 6 h during which time they were permitted complete ad libitum access to a buffet meal. The timing of meals, energy/macronutrient intake and eating frequency were assessed. Identical procedures were completed in the control trial except no exercise was performed. Exercise increased the length of time (35 min) before participants voluntarily requested to eat afterwards. Despite this, energy intake at the first meal consumed, or at subsequent eating episodes, was not influenced by exercise (total trial energy intake: control 7426 kJ, exercise 7418 kJ). Neither was there any difference in macronutrient intake or meal frequency between trials. These results confirm that food intake remains unaffected by exercise in the immediate hours after but suggest that exercise may invoke a delay before food is desired.

► We investigated appetite and food intake responses after a single bout of running.
► Food availability was totally unrestricted for several hours after exercise.
► The voluntary request for a meal was delayed after a single bout of exercise.
► Exercise did not alter ad libitum energy intake or macronutrient selection.