Participation in Physical Activity after Consuming Meals of Differing Caloric Content Does Not Alter Appetite Four Hours Post-Activity

The present study assessed children’s appetite after consumption of either a lowcalorie (LC) or high-calorie (HC) meal, followed by a timed bout of physical activity. Children aged six to ten years (N=19) participated in each of two trials, where they were asked to consume a HC or LC meal, and were then given free-choice access to physical and sedentary activities for 30 minutes. Trials were separated by one week, and treatment order of meals was randomized. The two, fast food-style meal conditions were comprised of the same food items and identical in macronutrient proportion, however were designed to contain approximately twice as much energy in the HC (~600 calories) compared to LC (~300 calories) condition. Subjective satiety ratings were collected via Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at four time points during each trial (pre-meal, post-meal, post-activity, and four hours post-meal). ANOVA revealed a meal condition by time interaction (p=0.045) for Appetite rating. Compared to HC, Appetite ratings were greater (p≤0.015) in LC both immediately post-meal (71±74, HC versus 131±96, LC) and post-activity session (96±66 HC, 160±57 LC). There were no differences (p≥0.16) in Appetite rating between the conditions at the pre-meal and four hours post-meal time points (p’ s ≥0.16). Therefore, while Appetite was greater immediately after eating the LC meal than the HC meal, that difference is eliminated by four hours post-meal which is likely to be the time the next meal is consumed.