Exercising definitely burns calories, but scientific studies show inconsistent results as to whether exercising increases or decreases your appetite. In fact, it may actually do both. The type of exercise and the amount of time you wait before eating after exercising appear to significantly affect how exercise changes your appetite. Exactly how exercise effects your appetite is not yet known.
Weightlifting vs. the Treadmill
Exercising vigorously for an hour on a treadmill has greater affects on key appetite controlling hormones compared to 1.5 hours of weightlifting, according to researchers at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. Based on questionnaires filled out by the 11 male participants, aerobic exercise produced the greatest suppression of hunger, followed by resistance exercise such as weightlifting.
Swimming
Moderate intensity swimming inhibits appetite during exercise and stimulates a delayed increase in appetite in the hours thereafter according to research from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University. Appetite inhibition during exercise is called exercise-induced anorexia and also occurs during land-based activities at a moderate level of intensity or higher. Eleven participants had access to a buffet meal three hours and seven and a half hours after a one-hour intermittent swimming set. Caloric intake was significantly higher at the first meal compared to the second.
Exercising After Your Meal
Exercising for 50 minutes, two hours after your meal extends the appetite suppressing effect of eating, according to researchers from the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at San Diego State University.
Exercise Increases Appetite
Exercise increases your hunger, but you eat less according to research from the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. Fifty-eight overweight and obese individuals participated in 12 weeks of exercise designed to burn 2,500 calories a week and ate a fixed breakfast of cereal with milk, toast topped with jam and tea with milk. As the participants lost weight, hunger increased. However, the more weight participants lost, the less food was necessary to satisfy their appetites.
References
- Eurekalert: Exercise Suppresses Appetite by Affecting Appetite Hormones; 2008.
- "Appetite"; Appetite Regulation via Exercise Prior or Subsequent to high-fat Meal Consumption; M.H. Cheng et al.; February 2009.
- "Journal of Obesity"; The Acute Effects of Swimming on Appetite, Food Intake, and Plasma Acylated Ghrelin; James A. King et al.; 2011.
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Dual-Process Action of Exercise on Appetite Control; Neil A. King et al.; October 2009.
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