The Impact of Morning or Evening Exercise on Food Intake
The Impact of Morning or Evening Exercise on Food Intake
The beneficial effects of regular exercise on both physical and mental health are widely
 known; it is a pivotal component in the treatment and prevention of many metabolic disorders,
 including obesity. Exercise facilitates weight management, not only by increasing energy
 expenditure but through its effect on appetite regulation and, therefore, energy intake.

 Multiple factors influence the effect of exercise on appetite regulation including body fat ,
 gender, intensity and duration of exercise and levels of habitual physical activity .
 However, recently interest has grown around the impact time-of-day of exercise may have on
 appetite regulation . Subjective feelings of hunger follow a strong diurnal pattern, with
 feelings of hunger peaking in the evening and appearing lowest in the morning . Evening
 energy intake has been associated with increased total energy intake and body mass index
 Evening exercise could potentially counteract or lessen the evening hunger sensations and
 therefore reduce evening and total energy intake. The aim of this study is to investigate any
 changes in total energy intake, distribution of energy intake, and food preference on the day
 of and 24 -hours after a bout of moderate-intensity exercise completed in the morning or
 evening in a group of physically inactive adults. A total sample of 12 physically inactive
 adults aged 18-60 will be recruited on to the study. The study will take the form of a
 two-armed randomised controlled crossover trial consisting of two 48-hr overnight stays in
 the Human Intervention Studies Unit (HISU) at Ulster University, Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
 The participant information sheet will focus on the effect of morning and evening exercise on
 ambulatory blood pressure and exercise-induced feeling states to prevent the participants'
 knowledge of the true purpose of the study from influencing their feeding behaviours.
 Ambulatory blood pressure will be monitored for at least 24 hours after the exercise session
 and participants will be asked to complete questionnaires of exercise induced feeling states
 immediately before and after each exercise session. Participants will be briefed on the true
 purpose of the study following the study completion. During the visits, participants will be
 asked to perform 1 hour of exercise at 70% of their maximal heart rate on a motorised
 treadmill between either 0800-1000 or 1800-2000 on the first full day of the study
 appointment. Food will be provided ad libitum for the duration of the study. All food intake
 will be noted and covertly weighed and directly observed through security cameras in the HISU
 dining room and lounge areas to measure food-related behaviours, such as grazing or bingeing.
 A 24 hour dietary recall will be conducted at the end of each study appointment to validate
 recall against observed intake.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Does not exercise regularly (as determined by International Physical Activity
 Questionnaire (IPAQ) short form.

 -  Able to perform 1 hour of moderate-intensity exercise on a treadmill.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnancy/ lactation.

 -  Have significant dysphagia, gastric outlet obstruction, or any other factor which
 prevents the consumption of a meal.

 -  Have a significant food allergy or dietary restriction.

 -  Have a systemic or gastrointestinal condition that may affect food intake or
 preference.

 -  Taking medication or supplements that affect energy intake or appetite.

 -  Taking medication that affects blood pressure or heart rate.

 -  Have an irregular sleep or shift work patterns.

 -  Travel across > one time zone in the last month.

 -  Fitted with pacemaker

 -  Smokes or uses vaping products