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

Abstract Objective To investigate the effects of moderate‐intensity aerobic exercise on appetite control parameters, appetite perceptions, and energy intake in sedentary males with obesity. Design Eleven males with obesity (body fat percentage 36.5 ± 2.5%, body mass index 35.3 ± 4.2 kg/m 2 , 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. Result 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, ), total ghrelin ( p = 0.646, ), and total GLP‐1 ( p = 0.451, ) 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). Conclusion Sixty minutes of MICT increased GDF‐15 while suppressing appetite perceptions in individuals with obesity. There was no energy compensation postexercise.