Inhibitory control mediates the effect of high intensity interval exercise on food choice

The mechanism of a 16-Week Baduanjin intervention in altering neural inhibition responses to food cues in healthy adults - an ERP study

The positive impact of exercise on inhibitory control has been validated in numerous studies; however, few studies have explored the effect of long-term exercise on food-related inhibitory control. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of long-term exercise on the inhibitory response to food cues and the underlying neural mechanism. We recruited 51 healthy participants who were pseudo randomly divided into an exercise group and a non-exercise group, body mass index (BMI), age and sex. The exercise group underwent 16 weeks of Baduanjin intervention at a frequency of 3 days/week for 60 min/session. The assessment consisted of a personal information questionnaire, a hunger questionnaire and Go/NoGo tasks. The electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded as the participants performed the Go/NoGo task. Only EEG data for the NoGo stimuli were analysed. The participants were asked to complete the entire procedure at baseline and within 1 week after the end of the exercise. There were 26 participants in the exercise group (age: 18.90 ± 0.49; number of females (%): 23 (88.46%); BMI: 21.79 ± 4.40) and 25 participants in the control group (age: 19.19 ± 0.63; number of females (%):20 (80.00%); BMI: 21.26 ± 3.36).A significant interaction effect of group and time on NoGo accuracy and N2/P2/P3 amplitudes was observed. Specifically, 16 weeks of Baduanjin exercise significantly increased NoGo accuracy, decreased the N2 amplitude and increased the P2/P3 amplitudes for food-related NoGo stimuli. We speculated that exercise may improve inhibitory control by reasonably regulating the allocation of attentional resources and improving the strategic orientation of attention.

The Impact of Acute Aerobic Exercise on General and Food-Related Inhibitory Function Among Young Adults with Obesity: An Event-Related Potential (ERP) Study

Backgrounds and Objectives: Obesity presents a significant global public health challenge and is associated with declines in both general and food-related inhibitory control, crucial for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing obesity progression. An increasing body of research suggests that acute aerobic exercise may improve inhibitory function. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of acute aerobic exercise on both general and food-related inhibition in obese adults remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential impacts and underlying neuroelectronic mechanisms of a single session of aerobic exercise at varying intensities on general and food-related inhibitory functions among young adult males with obesity. Design: A within-subject design comprising three sessions (control, low-intensity exercise, moderate-intensity exercise) × three picture types (high-calorie food, low-calorie food, neutral picture) was employed. Methods: Eighteen young adult males with obesity [body mass index (BMI): 34.60 ± 4.21 kg/m2, aged 24.50 ± 5.13 years (Mean ± SD)] were recruited. They participated in three intervention sessions: acute aerobic exercise at low [40-50% maximal Heart Rate (HRmax)], moderate (65-70% HRmax), and a control session (sitting rest), separated by five-day intervals in a counterbalanced order. Following each session, participants performed a food-related Go/No-go task, and EEG recordings (N2 and P3 components) were conducted within 15 min. Results: Moderate-intensity exercise elicited larger N2 amplitudes compared to the control session across different picture types and task conditions. However, there was no significant effect on behavioral indicators or P3 amplitude across sessions. Additionally, food stimuli (both high- and low-calorie) resulted in lower No-go accuracy and smaller N2 amplitudes compared to neutral stimuli. Conclusions: Acute moderate-intensity exercise might influence general and food-related inhibitory function in obese individuals at the neuroelectric stage, potentially by enhancing attentional resources for managing cognitive control and conflict detection. Moreover, reduced N2 amplitudes and No-go accuracy in response to food stimuli compared to non-food stimuli indicate a diminished ability to allocate attentional and neural resources to manage food-related conflicts. However, due to the relatively small sample size, caution is advised when generalizing these findings to the broader population. The pilot test indicated that obese participants had difficulty sustaining high-intensity exercise at 80-90% of their maximum heart rate for a continuous or 20 min period, highlighting potential challenges in exercise adherence at high intensities within this population. Future research is needed to utilize interdisciplinary approaches and multimodal technologies to clarify how exercise influences food-related cognition, appetite regulation, and brain mechanisms in obesity, aiming to better contribute to the prevention and treatment of obesity.