The Effect of Interval Exercise at Different Hypoxia Intensities on Responses of Acylated Ghrelin and Appetite in Overweight Subject

Considering to the importance of the obesity pandemic, the purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of hypoxia intensities on responses of Acylated Ghrelin and appetite to interval exercise in overweight subjects.
Subjects were eight healthy males (age, 22.14±2.11 yrs; height,175.28±7.69 cm; weight, 87.03±5.95 kg; BMI, 28.4±1.5 kg/m2), who voluntarily participated in the study. The exercise protocol, conducted in a hypoxic chamber in a counterbalance manner, included 30 minutes interval exercise at 5 sets of 4 min exercise at 85% at maximal heart rate and 2 min active rest at 50% maximal heart rate at an elevation 2700 and 3300 meters equal to decrease of oxygen pressure to 14% and 15%. Blood platelet indices including acylated ghrelin and appetite index were measured 15 minutes before and at 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 minutes after exercise.
Hypoxic intensities had no significant influence on acylated ghrelin (p=0.180) and appetite (p=0.215) but interval exercise in hypoxia, irrespective of hypoxic intensity was effective on appetite (P=0.046).
Based on the results of present study, it could be concluded that interval exercise in hypoxia, irrespective of hypoxic intensity is effective on appetite, indicating that exercise at lower hypoxia that is accessible for overweight subjects, can be recommended for controlling apetite and weight reduction