Acute Exercise and Appetite-Regulating Hormones in Overweight and Obese Individuals: A Meta-Analysis

J Obes. 2016:2016:2643625. doi: 10.1155/2016/2643625. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

Abstract

In lean individuals, acute aerobic exercise is reported to transiently suppress sensations of appetite, suppress blood concentrations of acylated ghrelin (AG), and increase glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide-YY (PYY). Findings in overweight/obese individuals have yet to be synthesised. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we quantified the effects that acute exercise has on AG and total PYY and GLP-1 in overweight/obese individuals. The potential for body mass index (BMI) to act as a moderator for AG was also explored. Six published studies (73 participants, 78% male, mean BMI: 30.6 kg·m-2) met the inclusion criteria. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) and standard errors were extracted for AG and total PYY and GLP-1 concentrations in control and exercise trials and synthesised using a random effects meta-analysis model. BMI was the predictor in metaregression for AG. Exercise moderately suppressed AG area-under-the-curve concentrations (pooled SMD: -0.34, 95% CI: -0.53 to -0.15). The magnitude of this reduction was greater for higher mean BMIs (pooled metaregression slope: -0.04 SMD/kg·m-2 (95% CI: -0.07 to 0.00)). Trivial SMDs were obtained for total PYY (0.10, 95% CI: -0.13 to 0.31) and GLP-1 (-0.03, 95% CI: -0.18 to 0.13). This indicates that exercise in overweight/obese individuals moderately alters AG in a direction that could be associated with decreased hunger and energy intake. This trial is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42014006265.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Exercise*
  • Ghrelin / blood
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / blood
  • Humans
  • Obesity / blood*
  • Overweight / blood
  • Peptide YY / blood

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Ghrelin
  • Peptide YY
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1