Impact of aerobic exercise training on body weight, energy intake, and appetite-regulating hormones in rats

Abstract

Post-exercise energy compensation (EC) through increased energy intake (EI) leads to lower than anticipated weight reduction. This study sought to determine the mechanisms, independent of bodyweight (BW), that are involved in EC over an 8-week period of voluntary wheel running. Twelve-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats (n=30) fed an AIN-93M diet were randomized into 3 groups: 1) sedentary control (SED); 2) voluntary wheel exercise (EX); and 3) sedentary, weight-matched to aerobic exercise (SED-WM) for 8 weeks. Measures of BW, adiposity, appetite-regulating hormones, gut microbiota, and NA/VTA volume were assessed. BW was initially reduced in EX, but no differences were present between SED and EX at the end of the study. EI in EX steadily increased over the course of the study. Fat mass, leptin, and insulin were reduced in EX. Exercise-induced improvements in body composition may contribute to reductions in tonic hormones and satiety, potentially contributing to an increase in EI.