Resistance Exercise Lowers Both Hunger and Satiety Hormones Differently Than Aerobic Exercise
Resistance exercise lowered both ghrelin (hunger) and GLP-1/PYY (satiety) hormones compared to aerobic exercise, yet neither type increased food intake versus sitting, showing exercise suppresses appetite through different hormonal patterns.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Resistance exercise reduced ghrelin (p=0.006), PYY (p=0.001), and GLP-1 (p=0.013) AUC versus aerobic exercise. Neither exercise type increased ad libitum energy intake versus sedentary control (REx 991, AEx 937, SED 944 kcal, p=0.50).
Key Numbers
24 adults; ghrelin P=0.006; PYY P=0.001; GLP-1 P=0.013; ~940-991 kcal lunch intake; no condition differences
How They Did This
Crossover study. 24 physically inactive adults (35% body fat, 50% female). Three conditions: resistance exercise, aerobic exercise (walking), sedentary control. Appetite hormones (ghrelin, PYY, GLP-1) measured over 180 min. Ad libitum lunch intake assessed.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding that different exercise types have distinct effects on appetite hormones helps design exercise programs for weight management. The finding that exercise suppresses eating despite lowered satiety hormones suggests non-hormonal appetite control mechanisms.
The Bigger Picture
Exercise's appetite effects are more complex than simply boosting satiety hormones. This study shows the brain integrates multiple signals beyond gut peptides to control post-exercise eating, which has implications for understanding exercise's role in weight management.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small study (24 participants). Single exercise bout — chronic effects may differ. Physically inactive population only. Ad libitum meal was laboratory-based. Only measured three appetite hormones.
Questions This Raises
- ?What non-hormonal mechanisms suppress appetite after exercise despite lower satiety hormones?
- ?Would chronic resistance training produce different long-term appetite hormone profiles?
- ?Does the exercise type effect on appetite hormones differ in active versus inactive individuals?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- All hormones lower, same intake Resistance exercise reduced ghrelin, GLP-1, and PYY compared to aerobic exercise, yet food intake was identical — challenging the simple hormone-appetite model
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate evidence: crossover design strengthens within-subject comparisons, but small sample (24) and single-session acute design limit generalizability.
- Study Age:
- Published 2021. Exercise-appetite research continues with growing interest in different exercise modalities and their metabolic effects.
- Original Title:
- Appetite and Energy Intake Regulation in Response to Acute Exercise.
- Published In:
- Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 53(10), 2173-2181 (2021)
- Authors:
- Halliday, Tanya M(2), White, Mollie H, Hild, Allison K, Conroy, Molly B, Melanson, Edward L, Cornier, Marc-Andre
- Database ID:
- RPEP-05434
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Does exercise make you eat more?
Not in this study. Neither resistance training nor aerobic exercise increased food intake at a meal eaten 3 hours later, compared to just sitting. This contradicts the common belief that exercise increases appetite.
Should I do weights or cardio for appetite control?
Both types prevented overeating equally in this study, despite affecting hunger hormones differently. Resistance exercise lowered all appetite hormones (both hunger and satiety), while aerobic exercise kept satiety hormones higher. For appetite management, either type works.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-05434APA
Halliday, Tanya M; White, Mollie H; Hild, Allison K; Conroy, Molly B; Melanson, Edward L; Cornier, Marc-Andre. (2021). Appetite and Energy Intake Regulation in Response to Acute Exercise.. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 53(10), 2173-2181. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002678
MLA
Halliday, Tanya M, et al. "Appetite and Energy Intake Regulation in Response to Acute Exercise.." Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002678
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Appetite and Energy Intake Regulation in Response to Acute E..." RPEP-05434. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/halliday-2021-appetite-and-energy-intake
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.