The impact of acute bouts of interval and continuous walking on energy‐intake and appetite regulation in subjects with type 2 diabetes

In healthy subjects, it has been suggested that exercise may acutely suppress energy‐intake and appetite, with peak intensity being an important determinant for this effect. In subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the effect of exercise on appetite‐related variables is, however, virtually unknown. We aimed to assess the effects of two exercise interventions, differing with regards to peak intensity, on energy‐intake, satiety and appetite‐related hormones in subjects with T2D. Thirteen subjects with T2D completed three 60‐min interventions with continuous measurement of oxygen consumption in a randomized and counterbalanced order: (1) Control, (2) Continuous walking (CW; intended 73% of VO (2)peak), (3) Interval‐walking (IW; repeated cycles of 3 min slow [54% of VO (2)peak] and 3 min fast walking [89% of VO (2)peak]). Forty‐five minutes after completion of the intervention, a 3‐h liquid mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT, 450 kcal) with regular satiety assessments and blood samples for appetite‐related hormones commenced. An ad libitum meal was served after the MMTT, with subsequent calculation of energy‐intake. Moreover, free‐living diet records were completed for the following ~32 h. Exercise interventions were well‐matched for mean oxygen consumption (CW = 77 ± 2% of VO (2)peak; IW = 76 ± 1% of VO (2)peak, P > 0.05). No differences in appetite‐related hormones or energy‐intake were found (P > 0.05 for all comparisons). IW increased fullness compared to Control shortly after the intervention (P < 0.05) and tended to reduce hunger 2 h into the MMTT compared to CW and Control (P < 0.10). In conclusion, a single exercise session does not affect energy‐intake during the following ~4–36 h in subjects with T2D. However, satiety may be affected up to ~3 h after the exercise session, dependent on peak intensity.