Regular exercise not only helps the body stay healthy but also increases calorie burning and maintains lean muscle mass. However, not all types of exercise have the same effect. Some types of exercise have the ability to control appetite by regulating hunger hormones in the body, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

This is the conclusion drawn in a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology . Scientists conducted a study on nine middle-aged men. The purpose was to test the impact of exercise on the appetite hormone ghrelin, also known as the hunger hormone, secreted by the intestine.

They were divided into three groups. The first group ran for 30 minutes.

The second group did high-intensity exercise on a treadmill. For 20 minutes, they had to sprint for 1 minute and rest for 1 minute, repeating this 10 times.

The third group also did high-intensity exercise but on a stationary bike. They were asked to pedal at full speed for 15 seconds, rest for 2 minutes, and repeat 8 times. The total duration of the exercise was about 20 minutes.

The analysis showed that the appetite hormone ghrelin in the blood was lower on days when the volunteers performed high-intensity exercises. The researchers believe that the exercise itself suppressed the hormone ghrelin, thereby reducing appetite.

This happens because high-intensity exercise increases the concentration of lactic acid in the body. Lactic acid reduces the concentration of the hunger hormone ghrelin. In other words, if the exercise is high-intensity, it will stimulate lactic acid in the body, thereby suppressing appetite.

No exercise has been found to help you eat less.

In the study, the authors found no exercise that helped people eat less. They believe that proper exercise can reduce appetite, but whether or not people eat less depends on their eating habits.

Meanwhile, a 2020 study in the Journal of Applied Physiology also showed the impact of exercise on appetite. However, the benefit of reducing appetite hormones was only effective about 90 minutes after exercise. However, this effect also made it easier for exercisers to adhere to diet and exercise, thereby losing weight more effectively.

While high-intensity exercise is a good choice for reducing appetite, avoid exercising in water. Another study published in the journal Appetite found that exercising in water increases appetite, especially in cold water, according to Healthline .