New research published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society suggests that intense exercise may suppress appetite in healthy adults, with women potentially feeling the effects more strongly than men.
The small study included eight healthy male participants and six healthy female participants. Each participant completed three different levels of exercise at different times and then self-reported their appetite afterward. The three categories were no exercise, moderate-effort exercise, and high-effort exercise. Additionally, participants had their ghrelin levels measured before and after each level of exercise. Ghrelin is known as the hunger hormone and has been previously associated with appetite; it circulates in both acylated and deacylated forms in the bloodstream. The goal of the study was to see whether exercise intensity affects levels of ghrelin and perceived appetite and whether the effects vary based on sex.
The results showed that female participants had higher levels of ghrelin at the start of the study, before doing any exercise. After participating in high-effort exercise, both males and females had reduced ghrelin levels and reduced perceived appetites. However, only females had significantly reduced ghrelin levels in its acylated form. Moderate levels of exercise, which did not go above the lactate threshold, did not change ghrelin levels or appetite.
The authors stated that, based on the results of this study, high-intensity exercise may be an effective way to suppress appetite. Additionally, women may feel a greater effect on their appetite due to their decreased acylated ghrelin after intense exercise. However, more research with a greater number of participants is needed to confirm these results. This knowledge could be helpful in creating effective weight loss programs for some individuals. Getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are both essential components of maintaining and achieving optimal heart and brain health.