Abstract
Objective
This randomized crossover study compared acute appetite-related, gut-hormone, and energy-intake responses between moderate-intensity resistance plus aerobic training (RAT) and high-intensity functional plus aerobic training (FAT) in males with obesity
Methods
Twenty-one men with obesity completed both protocols in a randomized crossover design. Subjective appetite was assessed using a visual analogue scale, and insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1, and peptide YY (PYY) were measured pre-, post-, and 1 h post-exercise. Energy intake was recorded during subsequent meals and over 2 days
Results
PYY responses differed between conditions over time, with a significant condition × time interaction (P = 0.015). At 1 h post-exercise, PYY concentrations were higher after RAT than after FAT (ratio = 1.69, 95% CI 1.26–2.27; adjusted P < 0.001). PYY AUC was higher in RAT than in FAT (ratio [RAT/FAT] = 1.44; P = 0.016). Fullness AUC was lower after RAT than after FAT, whereas prospective food consumption AUC was higher after RAT than after FAT (Δ [RAT − FAT] = −670.0 and 701.4 mm·120 min; P = 0.014 and P = 0.016, respectively). No between-condition differences were observed in energy intake on the trial day or the following day.
Conclusion
Varying the resistance component within combined exercise may elicit distinct acute hormonal and perceptual appetite responses in young men with obesity, without altering short-term energy intake. These findings should be interpreted as comparative responses between RAT and FAT rather than exercise-induced effects per se
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
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Acknowledgements
The authors would also like to thank the peer reviewers for their constructive comments, which improved the manuscript
Funding
Research Project on the Construction of a Sports-Health Integration Technology Innovation Platform at Hebei Sport University (285748) was obtained for this article
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These authors contributed equally: Nan Li, Min Wu
Authors and Affiliations
Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
Nan Li
Department of Physical Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Min Wu
China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
Yanchun Li
Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Performance and Skill Assessment, Beijing, China
Yanchun Li
Key Laboratory for Performance Training & Recovery of General Administration of Sport, Beijing, China
Yanchun Li
Hebei Sport University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
Xiangang Yang
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Contributions
NL, MW and YL conceived and designed research; NL analyzed data; NL, MW, YL and XG performed experiments; NL interpreted results of experiments; NL prepared figures; NL drafted manuscript; NL, MW, YL and XG edited and revised the manuscript; NL, MW, YL and XG approved final version of the manuscript
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The authors declare no competing interests
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The experimental procedures involving human participants in this study were conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Sport Science Experimentation at Beijing Sport University (Approval No. 2025018H). Furthermore, the trial was prospectively registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No. ChiCTR2500099405). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their enrolment in the study.
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Li, N., Wu, M., Li, Y. et al. Acute appetite and gut-hormone responses to two combined training sessions: a randomized crossover study in men with obesity.
Eur J Clin Nutr (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-026-01785-4
Received:11 December 2025
Revised:12 June 2026
Accepted:02 July 2026
Published:15 July 2026
Version of record:15 July 2026
DOI
:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-026-01785-4
