Working up a sweat may help you curb your calorie intake, according to a new British study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The study divided women into two groups. One followed a calorie-restricted diet; the other was told to run for 90 minutes on a treadmill. Both groups took part in an open buffet later that day with no limitations. Those who were on the diets had higher levels of the hunger-hormone ghrelin, which is known to increase appetite, and ate nearly 300 calories more than those who exercised.
Of course, even very fit women can’t commit to running 90 minutes at a time. But the key here seemed to be intensity, not duration, says study author David Stensel, Ph.D., associate dean for enterprise at the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University. The higher the intensity of exercise, the more likely ghrelin levels are suppressed. And other research has shown that resistance training can also lower levels of this hunger hormone. All of which means that working up a good sweat can go a long way toward helping you reach your fat-loss goals.
