Intense exercise can be used “like a drug” by women to suppress hunger levels, a study suggests.
An experiment found that high-intensity physical activity led to reductions in levels of a hormone called ghrelin, which is produced by the stomach and increases appetite.
Study leader Kara Anderson, of the University of Virginia in the US, said: “Exercise should be thought of as a ‘drug,’ where the ‘dose’ should be customised based on an individual’s personal goals.
“Our research suggests that high-intensity exercise may be important for appetite suppression, which can be particularly useful as part of a weight loss program.”
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For the study, eight men and six women fasted overnight and then completed exercises of varying intensity levels.
Women had higher baseline levels of ghrelin and saw significant reductions after high-intensity exercise. Men did not see significant reductions.
Dr Anderson added: “We found that high-intensity exercise suppressed ghrelin levels more than moderate-intensity exercise.
“In addition, we found that individuals felt ‘less hungry’ after high-intensity exercise compared to moderate-intensity exercise.”
People who are obese typically have lower levels of ghrelin. It also has other functions in the body, including helping it store fat, triggering the release of growth hormones and controlling sugars and insulin.
Levels are highest before meals and drop after eating. The findings were published online in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.