In a new study, researchers found that regular physical activity could help reduce appetite and lose weight.
The research was conducted by a team at Drexel University.
Following a dietary weight loss program can be difficult. Many factors trigger diet lapses, which can lead to weight loss failure.
Experts disagree on whether physical activity increases risk or protects against diet lapses.
While some studies show exercise leads to overeating by increasing appetite and/or a person’s justification for eating, other studies show exercise regulates hunger and may help reduce overeating.
In the study, 130 participants took part in a weight loss program. They followed a reduced-calorie diet and engaged in an exercise in their real-world environments.
The team found that exercise was protective against overeating. When participants did not engage in exercise, the risk of overeating in the following hours was 12%.
Whereas when participants engaged in 60 minutes of exercise, the risk of overeating was cut by more than half, to 5%.
For every additional 10 minutes of exercise a participant engaged in, the likelihood of overeating decreased by 1% in the few hours following exercise.
The finding suggests that exercise may also aid in adhering to a reduced-calorie diet, perhaps through improved regulation of appetite or eating behavior.
It adds another reason to engage in exercise if one is seeking weight loss.
The team says the study may boost the development of treatments that prevent overeating and facilitate weight loss.
The results also hinted that the effect of exercise on eating behavior may depend on the intensity of the exercise, with light (versus moderate-to-vigorous) physical activity showing the strongest protective effects against overeating.
The lead author of the study is Rebecca Crochiere, a graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences.
The study is published in Health Psychology.
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