Chronic Aerobic Exercise Associated with Reduced Body Weight Decreases Serum Ghrelin in Adult Obese Individuals

In the past decade, Ghrelin has gained considerable attention for its unique role in regulating appetite and short or long-term energy homeostasis. This study aims to clarify the effects t a chronic aerobic exercise program on serum ghrelin in obese males. Subjects included in the study were thirty four adult obese males Aged 38 to 50 years and were divided into experimental (exercise intervention) or control (without exercise) groups. Anthropometrical measurements, fasting serum ghrelin and lipid profile performed before and after aerobic exercise and detraining interventions (3 days/wk for 3 months) in experimental and control groups respectively. Statistical analysis was used by independent - paired samples t-tests in SPSS software version 15.0. Serum ghrelin concentration decreased significantly after exercise intervention in experimental group (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, all anthropometrical indexes, resting heart rate and systolic blood pressure decreased in exercise group (p ≤ 0.05). Triglyceride concentration was decreased significantly whereas total cholesterol, low and high lipoprotein cholesterol did not change after exercise training in experimental group (p ≥ 0.05). All variable remind without changes in control group (p ≥ 0.05). Our finding demonstrated that chronic aerobic exercise associated with reduced body weight leads to decreased serum ghrelin in obese individuals and support of the role of exercise as a non-pharmacologic treatment in regulating and balancing this peptide hormone in these subjects.