Acute Exercise and Appetite-Regulating Hormones in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

In lean individuals, acute aerobic exercise is reported to transiently suppress sensations of appetite, suppress blood concentrations of acylated ghrelin (AG), and increase glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide-YY (PYY). Findings in overweight/obese individuals have yet to be synthesised. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we quantified the effects that acute exercise has on AG and total PYY and GLP-1 in overweight/obese individuals. The potential for body mass index (BMI) to act as a moderator for AG was also explored. Six published studies (73 participants, 78% male, mean BMI: 30.6 kg·m−2) met the inclusion criteria. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and standard errors were extracted for AG and total PYY and GLP-1 concentrations in control and exercise trials and synthesised using a random effects meta-analysis model. BMI was the predictor in metaregression for AG. Exercise moderately suppressed AG area-under-the-curve concentrations (pooled SMD: −0.34, 95% CI: −0.53 to −0.15). The magnitude of this reduction was greater for higher mean BMIs (pooled metaregression slope: −0.04 SMD/kg·m−2 (95% CI: −0.07 to 0.00)). Trivial SMDs were obtained for total PYY (0.10, 95% CI: −0.13 to 0.31) and GLP-1 (−0.03, 95% CI: −0.18 to 0.13). This indicates that exercise in overweight/obese individuals moderately alters AG in a direction that could be associated with decreased hunger and energy intake. This trial is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42014006265.

Effect of physical exercise on spontaneous physical activity energy expenditure and energy intake in overweight adults (the EFECT study): a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…In addition, high-intensity exercise may change appetite-regulating hormones, leading to a greater suppression of orexigenic signals and greater stimulation of anorexigenic signals, contributing to a reduction in post-exercise energy intake, an effect known as ‘exercise-induced anorexia’ [ 18 ]. However, findings are not consistent and some other studies presented different results [ 44 – 47 ].…”

The Impact of Protein Supplementation on Appetite and Energy Intake in Healthy Older Adults: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

“…The inclusion of crossover studies with multiple study arms raises the issue of "double counting" (11) for the acute-study meta-analysis. We followed a similar approach to several meta-analyses examining appetite and energy intake (12)(13)(14)(15)42) by considering the separate comparisons from multiple subgroups independently. This may impact estimates of variance; however, this is difficult to eradicate in appetite studies when studies are of this design (42).…”

“…We followed a similar approach to several meta-analyses examining appetite and energy intake (12)(13)(14)(15)42) by considering the separate comparisons from multiple subgroups independently. This may impact estimates of variance; however, this is difficult to eradicate in appetite studies when studies are of this design (42). In addition, as all acute studies had a crossover design and multiple subgroups this should not bias any single study.…”

Atividade fí­sica e modulação do apetite: Os efeitos do exercí­cio fí­sico na supressão do apetite

“…Em pessoas jovens e saudáveis com o peso controlado esse efeito de supressão do apetite e redução de consumo alimentar não desencadeia ação compensatória após o exercício aeróbico de intensidade moderada 30,31,32 verificando-se ainda que o déficit no balanço energético induzido pelo exercício foi originado por uma redução de natureza crônica na regulação hormonal do apetite 33 , no entanto, há controvérsias, pois Douglas et al 34 em sua revisão sistemática e metanálise, combinando resultados de diferentes estudos, apresenta, inicialmente, relatos de que, em indivíduos magros, o exercício agudo suprime transitoriamente sensações de apetite. Já em pessoas obesas ou com sobrepeso o exercício físico moderado propicia também a supressão do apetite e redução da ingestão de alimentos por causa da diminuição da grelina acilada circulante 35,36 , porém esse efeito é transiente 35,32 .…”