ACUTE EFFECTS OF EXERCISE OR SAUNA ON APPETITE IN OBESE AND NONOBESE MEN

To study the effect of exercise on appetite in men, hunger, thirst, ta ste perception, energy intake, and macronutrient choice were assessed in relation to exercise and to sauna; the latter was done to correct f or dehydration and rise in body temperature. Since exercise is used to prevent and cure obesity, subjects included obese as well as nonobese men. Thirty subjects (25 +/- 7 years, BMI 22.8 +/- 1.6 and 28.5 +/- 1 .9) were given twice, in random order before and after 2 h of cycling at 60% of W-max, 2 h of sauna, or 2 h of rest, an ample choice from so lid and liquid almost single-macronutrient food items and a taste perc eption test with solutions of sucrose, citric acid, NaCl, quinine, a m ixture of these, and a carbohydrate electrolyte solution. After cyclin g as well as after sauna, in comparison to after rest, subjects lost 3 +/- 0.5% of body mass, while thirst, fluid intake, perception of swee t at relatively low concentrations, and percentage of energy coming fr om carbohydrate increased significantly. Only after cycling compared t o after rest did perception of bitterness at a low concentration incre ase and hunger and energy intake decrease. We conclude that exercise i nduced a short-term reduction in hunger and energy intake, whereas exe rcise End sauna induced a short-term increase in taste perception of s weet at the lower concentration, while macronutrient preference of car bohydrate increased. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.