Exercise Doesn’t Boost Calorie Intake, New Analysis Suggests

Sharon Moore January 23, 2014

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Even though staying for a bit longer in the gym make you want to eat double the amount you would normally consume, new research found no consistent, compelling evidence that increased physical activity corresponds to increased calorie intake.

Many people are under the impression that they are supposed to eat back the calories they just burned after over-exercising. Now, a study review by the University of Kansas Medical Centre found that most exercisers don’t overcompensate by eating more than usual after exercise.

Yes, that’s great news for people looking to lose weight through exercise.

"It is commonly believed that individuals increase energy intake in response to physical activity or exercise training," the researchers wrote. "However, overall we found no consistent, compelling evidence that any level of increased physical activity or exercise has any impact on energy intake.”

The review involved 99 studies that followed five different design protocols, and uncovered a wide range of outcomes. 24 randomised trials, often considered the “gold standard,” reported no increase in calorie consumption after exercise whilst only 1 (4%) showed an increased consumption.

The researchers also found that various exercise routines didn’t produce different results. Similarly, exercise didn’t change the subjects’ typical food practices. “We found no consistent evidence for an effect of exercise on macronutrient intake,”

The researchers note that numerous studies have shown that exercise is a good way to lose weight from fats, not from muscles. This is why many people experience a slow decrease in their body weight even after weeks of exercising, whilst others even notice an increase. “These factors may be associated with long-term weight loss maintenance," the researchers wrote.

The researchers agree that exercise can boost weight loss compared with calorie restriction alone. However, they caution that exercise is less likely to produce dramatic results if not coupled with dietary changes. Whilst exercise is crucial for weight management, earlier research suggests that a low-calorie diet provides an easier way to remove extra pounds and people are more likely to stick to an eating plan than to an exercise programme.

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Exercise Doesn’t Appear to Increase Calorie Consumption