Regulation of energy balance: Adjustment of food intake to energy expenditure

Studies investigating the effect of exercise on body composition, as well as studies investigating the effect of exercise on ad libitum energy intake, provide insight into the association between exercise and energy balance. Reduced levels of physical activity does not exhibit a compensatory reduction of energy intake, and lead to a positive energy balance, most of which is stored as body fat. By contrast, high intensity exercise performed on regular basis increases energy intake in highly trained subjects and lean individuals. Obese untrained persons commonly do not change energy intake when exposed to exercise training. It can be concluded that regular high level of physical activity increases food intake secondary to excess body fat storage utilization, and thus serves as an effective strategy for obesity reduction. The physical activity recommendations for clinically significant weight loss are discussed herein. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.