Run hard ... you may well eat less

tsh0ck

interesting new study -- though, admittedly, a very small sample size.

this is from a runner's world piece:

Published in the International Journal of Obesity, the study had 17 sedentary, overweight men participate in four 30-minute sessions. In one they only rested. In the other three they did stationary bicycling at a continuous moderate pace, at a high intensity pace with intervals, and at a very high intensity pace with intervals. After the sessions the men were given a standard meal, and 70 minutes later were offered as much oatmeal as they wanted to eat.

Calorie intake was significantly lower after the high and very high intensity exercise sessions than it was after the resting session, and it was significantly lower after the very high intensity exercise session than it was after moderate exercise. After the resting session the men ate 764 calories compared to 594 calories after the very high intensity exercise session.

It's likely that the difference would have been even greater after running instead of cycling, given that most people find their appetite suppressed more by running than cycling.

Calorie consumption for the rest of the test day and the following day were also assessed. When the men did very high intensity exercise they ate less then as well. That is, they didn't overcompensate by eating more once they had recovered their appetite after the harder workouts.