Effects Of Resistance Exercise On Appetite And Energy Intake During Different Phases Of Menstrual Cycle

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the effects of resistance exercise on appetite, food preferences, and energy intake during the early-follicular and mid-luteal phases. METHODS: Eleven healthy young women (average age: 22.6 ± 1.3) participated in four counter-balanced trials, including exercise in the follicular phase (EF), exercise in the luteal phase (EL), control in the follicular phase (CF), and control in the luteal phase (CL). Participants engaged in resistance exercises (squat, bench press, and deadlift) comprising 3 sets per exercise (7 repetitions at 70% 1RM). Subjective appetite perceptions, food preferences, and lactate were measured pre- and post-exercise. Energy intake was recorded on the day before, the day of, and the day after the experiment. RESULTS: Lactate levels in the exercise trials were significantly higher than in control trials immediately and 30 minutes post-exercise (p < 0.05). Lactate in the EF was significantly higher than that in the EL immediately post-exercise (p = 0.019). Subjective appetite perceptions in the EF were significantly lower than in the CF immediately and 30 minutes post-exercise (p < 0.05), and the EL tended to be lower than the CL. No significant differences were observed in post-exercise food preferences and ad libitum meal energy intake between the four trials. Daily energy intake in the CL was significantly higher than in the CF and EL from 3-day food records (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Healthy women engaging in resistance exercise during the mid-luteal phase exhibited a greater inhibition of food intake compared to the early follicular phase. NSTC-112-2410-H-003-112