Influence of netball-based exercise on energy intake, subjective appetite and plasma acylated ghrelin in adolescent girls

This study explored 5-d regulation of exercise-induced energy expenditure, energy intake, and hormonal appetite, via acylated ghrelin, after acute exercise. Using a randomized crossover design, 10 female adolescents (13-15 y) completed two 7-d treatment weeks (2-d maintenance; 1-d treatment; 4-d follow-up), interspersed with a 1-wk period. On day 3, 47-mins of netball-based exercise or sedentary activity was imposed with a test meal 1-h later. Measures of energy expenditure, subjective appetite, test meal energy intake, plasma acylated ghrelin, insulin, and glucose were taken during this period. Energy intake compensation for the exercise period was calculated. 4-day follow-up measures were daily subjective appetite, energy intake, energy expenditure and energy balance. Girls felt more full 20-min during the netball-based exercise bout compared with sedentary (87±15v75±24 mm). An energy intake compensation of 27% was identified for the netball-based exercise. Compared with immediately before exercise/sedentary, plasma acylated ghrelin was elevated 45-min after netball (103.8±56.9v85.7±26.9 pg•mL-1;n=7) and sedentary (98.2±27.1v60.8±33.5 pg•mL-1;n=7) but not different between treatments. Adolescent girls (13-15 y) only partially compensated for the netball-based exercise-induced energy expenditure. The effect of exercise on appetite needs to be further explored in adolescents, whereby nutritional behaviour is tracked for >1-wk to investigate full compensation for acute exercise.