Associations between different exercise conditions and the hedonic mechanism of food preference

• Grant number: 24/09840-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Joana Pereira de Carvalho Ferreira
• Grantee: Natália Maria Faganelo de Lima D'Ottaviano Medina
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/06077-7 - Analysis of the hedonic mechanisms of food preferences according to different contextual situations, AP.R

Abstract

The current status of food-related diseases has led researchers to deeply investigate the mechanisms involved in food intake regulation, and the non-homeostatic mechanism - which is based on reward properties - has gained particular attention. In addition to the influence of the physiological state (pre x post prandial) on the reward value of food - more easily percieved empirically -, research in this field points to the modulation of liking and wanting and also of food intake based on the practice of different modalities and intensities of exercise, and this influence can be observed both in sustained practice, that is, chronic, and after a single exercise session, that is, acutely. Although low levels of physical activity appear to be associated with greater levels of liking and wanting for high-fat foods, and higher levels of physical activity appear to be associated with greater liking for low-fat foods and lower wanting for high-fat foods, little is known about the food preference benefits related to acute exercise. It has recently been shown that acute bouts of exercise seem to have reduced the reward value of high-fat foods in inactive individuals, and further clarification is needed regarding its effects in physically active subjects. This is an experimental, randomized crossover study, whose main objective is to evaluate the effects of a running session in a fed state compared to a running session in a fasting state on the psychological components of food reward (liking and wanting), appetite sensations and food consumption (low-fat and high-fat foods) of adult, eutrophic and physically active individuals. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the influence of fed and fasted states on food reward and to investigate correlations between psychological components of food reward, psychological aspects of eating behavior (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating and emotional eating), body image concerns, level of physical activity, sex and, age. After an initial session - for preliminary data collection and an ergometric test aplication -, volunteers will participate in two experimental sessions, in which they will perform, in random order, exercise in a fed state (FE), and exercise in a fasted state (FA). In the FE condition, participants will receive breakfast and a morning snack, and will perform an exercise bout in between both meals. In the FA condition, they will perform the exercise bout after a 12-hour overnight fasting, followed by a morning snack. In both conditions, indicators of reward and food preferences will be measured, as well as subjective appetite sensations and food intake. The results will be analyzed using an automated macro and differences within and between groups will be evaluated using two-way ANOVA, in which the control scales will be used as covariates. For all tests, p<0.05 will be considered.