title: Does Habitual Physical Activity Increase the Sensitivity of the Appetite Control System? A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been proposed that habitual physical activity improves appetite control; however, the evidence has never been systematically reviewed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether appetite control (e.g. subjective appetite, appetite-related peptides, food intake) differs according to levels of physical activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline, Embase and SPORTDiscus were searched for articles published between 1996 and 2015, using keywords pertaining to physical activity, appetite, food intake and appetite-related peptides.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles were included if they involved healthy non-smoking adults (aged 18-64 years) participating in cross-sectional studies examining appetite control in active and inactive individuals; or before and after exercise training in previously inactive individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 77 full-text articles assessed, 28 studies (14 cross-sectional; 14 exercise training) met the inclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Appetite sensations and absolute energy intake did not differ consistently across studies. Active individuals had a greater ability to compensate for high-energy preloads through reductions in energy intake, in comparison with inactive controls. When physical activity level was graded across cross-sectional studies (low, medium, high, very high), a significant curvilinear effect on energy intake (z-scores) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methodological issues existed concerning the small number of studies, lack of objective quantification of food intake, and various definitions used to define active and inactive individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Habitually active individuals showed improved compensation for the energy density of foods, but no consistent differences in appetite or absolute energy intake, in comparison with inactive individuals. This review supports a J-shaped relationship between physical activity level and energy intake. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.
  CRD42015019696.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. k.beaulieu14@leeds.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kristine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.|Academy of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blundell
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finlayson
mesh_terms: D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology*; D001069:Appetite Regulation; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012527:Satiation