Effect of Aerobic Training on Calorie Intake and Levels of Plasma Leptin and Insulin in Young Men

Changes in the amount of leptin and its relation with the calorie intake after adaptation to aerobic exercise are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two months of aerobic training on calorie intake and the levels of plasma leptin and insulin in young men. Twenty three male students (age= 19.58 ± 2.12 yr; BMI= 21.63 ± 2.7 kg/m²; weight= 64.86 ± 6.46 kg) were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental subjects performed aerobic trainings at 60-85% of their maximum heart rate, three times a week and for eight weeks. 72 hours prior to and after the eight-week aerobic training program, the subjects performed exhaustive exercise and their blood samples were taken in four stages in a non-fasted state before and after the exhaustive exercise. The findings of this study showed that aerobic training had no significant effect on plasma leptin (P=0.16), insulin concentration (P=0.06) and calorie intake (P=0.63) at the rest state after exhausting exercise while there were significant decreases in glucose (P=0.003) levels after exhaustive exercise. Discussion and Lack of significant variations in weight and remarkable negative balance are possible reasons why no change occurred in leptin and calorie intake after aerobic training. It seems that the volume and intensity of training must be higher to induce changes in plasma leptin as this index is highly stable.