Exercise doesn't just burn calories—it also restores sensitivity in the nerves that signal when you're full. This helps you stop eating sooner and lose more weight, according to research from Brazil's University of Campinas.
High-fat diets impair the vagus nerves that transmit signals of stomach fullness to the hypothalamus in the brain. This leads to an uncontrollable appetite and weight gain, contributing to obesity. Worldwide, up to 40 percent of the population is overweight, often due to sedentary lifestyles and poor eating habits.
The Study
Researchers had overweight rodents exercise vigorously. The animals produced more proteins IL-6 and IL-10, making the hypothalamus more sensitive to leptin and insulin. These hormones promote a feeling of satiety, and the rodents subsequently ate less.
This is the first study to demonstrate the direct link between exercise and reduced eating. The research is published in the journal PLoS Biology.
