Beneficial effects of 12 weeks of aerobic compared with resistance exercise training on perceived appetite in previously sedentary overweight and obese men.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of 12 weeks of aerobic (AER) compared with resistance training (RES) on perceived hunger and fullness, together with appetite-related hormones in both the fasted state and postprandially.

METHODS

Thirty-three inactive, overweight and obese men (age 49±7 years; BMI 30.8±4.2 kg/m(2)) were allocated to either AER exercise (n=12), RES exercise (n=13) or a control group (CON; n=8). AER and RES completed 12 weeks of training (3 sessions per week), while CON continued their sedentary routine. Perceived hunger and fullness, together with appetite-related hormones (active ghrelin, leptin, insulin, pancreatic polypeptide (PP), and peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY)) were assessed pre and post-intervention in the fasted state and in response to oral glucose consumption (1284 kJ; 75 g carbohydrate).

RESULTS

Both AER and RES training elicited a decrease in fat mass (p<0.05), while CON did not. There was no difference in perceived hunger either in the fasted state (p>0.05) or in response to caloric consumption (p>0.05) following the intervention in any group. In contrast, both fasting and postprandial perceived fullness was higher following AER exercise (p<0.05), but not RES exercise or CON. These observations were not associated with alterations in fasting or postprandial active ghrelin, PP or PYY, although fasting and postprandial leptin was reduced following both AER and RES training (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Aerobic exercise training is associated with an increase in satiety, while an equivalent period of resistance training is not.