The Workout Hack That Might Curb Your Cravings and Burn More Fat
If you're trying to keep your appetite in check, the type of workout you choose could play a bigger role than you think.
Recent research shows that full-body workouts not only help you burn more fat but are also more effective at reducing hunger. While it's well-known that these workouts can boost fat loss, this study zoomed in on the intriguing connection between exercise and appetite control. Researchers compared the effects of full-body resistance exercises, which engage all your muscles, to split-body routines that focus on either the upper or lower body on different days.
After the workouts, they measured participants' appetite levels, hunger hormones, lactate production, and the activity of the autonomic nervous system—a key player in digestion and appetite regulation. The results were clear: those who completed full-body resistance exercises experienced significantly reduced hunger, along with beneficial changes in appetite-regulating hormones, elevated lactate levels, and increased autonomic nervous system activity.
The secret may lie in the intensity of full-body workouts. Previous studies have shown that intense exercise spikes lactate levels. While lactic acid once had a bad reputation for causing muscle soreness, it’s now understood as a positive contributor to exercise benefits, including appetite suppression.
Higher lactate levels appear to lower ghrelin, the hormone that triggers hunger. On the flip side, moderate or low-intensity exercise often fails to affect appetite and can sometimes make you hungrier. However, intense workouts have been shown to help people consume around 200 fewer calories per day.
In summary, intense, full-body workouts not only help you burn more calories and fat but may also help you eat less—making them a powerful tool in your fitness and diet arsenal.
