Effect of fasted evening exercise on post-exercise energy intake

INTRODUCTION: Acute fasted morning exercise may help create a greater negative 24-hour energy balance than the same exercise performed after a meal. However, research exploring fasted evening exercise is limited. We aimed to assess the effects of a 6-hour fast before evening exercise on post-exercise energy intake (EI). METHODS: In this crossover study, 15 healthy participants (8 women; age: 23.9±1.9 years; weight: 71.3±16.2 kg; height: 1.8±0.1 m; BMI: 22.6±2.4 kg/m2) completed two identical vigorous 30-minute treadmill sessions 7 days apart. The sessions occurred following (1) a standardized breakfast (25% of total daily energy requirements [TDER]), lunch (30% of TDER), and a 6-hour fast (FastEx) or (2) the same standardized breakfast and lunch plus a snack (10% of TDER), offered 90 minutes before exercise (FedEx). Participants completed a single-item (cheese pizza, 2484 kcal) ad libitum test meal 30 minutes after each exercise condition. Additionally, participants recorded EI (weighed food log) during the 18 hours following the exercise sessions. Participants were not informed about the study's aim and primary outcome and were told the provided foods (standardized meals and ad libitum test meal) were rewards for participating. RESULTS: On the day of exercise, participants in FedEx consumed 3019±770 kcal compared to 2857±650 kcal in FastEx (mean difference: −163 [95% CI: −331, 5; p=0.06]). EI during the test meal did not differ between FedEx (1113±469 kcal) and FastEx (1193±383 kcal; p=0.23). Similarly, 18-hour post-exercise EI did not differ between FedEx (1244±444 kcal) and FastEx (1310±603 kcal; p=0.76). CONCLUSIONS: Fasting 6 hours before evening exercise may help reduce EI on the day of exercise with no apparent energy compensation during a meal directly after exercise or in the 18-hour post-exercise period. More research is needed to corroborate these findings.     «

INTRODUCTION: Acute fasted morning exercise may help create a greater negative 24-hour energy balance than the same exercise performed after a meal. However, research exploring fasted evening exercise is limited. We aimed to assess the effects of a 6-hour fast before evening exercise on post-exercise energy intake (EI). METHODS: In this crossover study, 15 healthy participants (8 women; age: 23.9±1.9 years; weight: 71.3±16.2 kg; height: 1.8±0.1 m; BMI: 22.6±2.4 kg/m2) completed two identical...     »