Resistance Exercise Lowers Both Hunger and Satiety Hormones Differently Than Aerobic Exercise | Research

The takeaway

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.

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

What the researchers 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).

Why it 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 numbers in context

24 adults; ghrelin P=0.006; PYY P=0.001; GLP-1 P=0.013; ~940-991 kcal lunch intake; no condition differences

How the study worked

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.

Who was studied

Physically inactive adults (35% body fat, 50% female)

What this study cannot 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.

How to read the evidence

Moderate evidence: crossover design strengthens within-subject comparisons, but small sample (24) and single-session acute design limit generalizability.

When this study was published

Published 2021. Exercise-appetite research continues with growing interest in different exercise modalities and their metabolic effects.

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.

Questions still open

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?

Common 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 the original research

Appetite and Energy Intake Regulation in Response to Acute Exercise.

Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 53(10), 2173-2181

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

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